No. 2 Ralston Valley boys soccer survives first-round scare versus Denver South

ARVADA — Halloween is less than a week away and the first round of the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament was frightening for No. 2-seeded Ralston Valley on Wednesday night.

The 5A Jeffco League champions got a solid test from No. 31 Denver South at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. Senior Ryan Mann played the role of late-night hero with an overtime penalty kick goal to give Ralston Valley a dramatic 2-1 win to spoil the upset bid by the Ravens.

“All that was going through my head walking up to that penalty kick was we’ve had an incredible run and it’s not going to end here,” said Mann about the Mustangs (14-0-2 record) breaking the school record with its 14th victory of the season.

Mann fired a low shot and Denver South senior goalie Jeremiah Brayton dove to his right as the ball rolled past Brayton on his left and into the back of the net. The celebration began as teammates mobbed Mann on the field.

“It is always a little scary walking up knowing this is an opportunity to help your team,” Mann said of taking the penalty kick. “It is also what I love about it. I get to help my team. It is me doing my part for my team.”

Ralston Valley senior goalie Evan Bierman and junior forward Cooper Hineline did their parts in getting the penalty kick opportunity. Bierman made his second game-saving goal in overtime coming out to cut off the angle on a shot by Denver South senior Cory Boggs.

“To come up big in the back when they need you is your job as the keeper,” Bierman said. “Hope your team can make something happen up top and that is what happened.”

The Mustangs countered quickly and got the ball to Hineline where he was taken down in the goalie box by a Denver South defender to draw the penalty kick.

“That save from Evan was huge. That was an MVP save. That was absolutely massive,” Mann said. “Coming down the other way Cooper Hineline was incredible. He was going all night. He doesn’t have an off switch. He got the penalty he was looking for.”

Last year, the Mustangs made it all the way to the semifinals of the 5A state tournament. It was the furthest Ralston Valley’s boys soccer team had advanced in the postseason since the school opened in 2000. 

Ralston Valley stunned top-seeded Legacy in the quarterfinals last season before eventually falling to Fairview in the semifinals. The Lightning were the No. 1 seed again, but couldn’t escape like the Mustangs on Wednesday night. No. 32 Lakewood stunned Legacy 2-1 in overtime at 5-Star Stadium to leave Ralston Valley as the highest remaining seed.

“This year more than ever everyone is close with skill level. I think everyone can win it,” Mann said after he was told Legacy lost. “I think the seeding aren’t relevant anymore. There are 16 teams left and everyone is fighting for a win.”

Denver South (8-8) grabbed the lead midway through the first half. Senior defender Zach Casey’s header ripped past Bierman in the 19th minute.

It was the third time this season that the Mustangs had been faced with a deficit. Bierman made a handful of his signature leaping saves similar to what he did last year in Ralston Valley’s deep playoff run.

“He (Bierman) hasn’t had a lot of work to do this year,” Ralston Valley coach John Doody admitted. “He was legendary last season. He came up big in the biggest moment for us tonight.”

Ralston Valley responded in the 26th minute with a goal from Mann to tie things up at 1-1. The Mustangs had a couple of chances to take the lead before halftime, but junior Hunter Byrne hit the cross bar in the 31st minute and then riffled a shot over the goal in the 34th minute to keep it tied going into halftime.

“I have to tip my cap to the South coach (Cris White). He made some adjustments at halftime that we haven’t seen,” Doody said. “They were very dangerous. They came after us. They made it very, very hard.”

Things won’t get any easier for Ralston Valley in the round of 16. The Mustangs will be back at NAAC on Halloween night (Tuesday, Oct. 31) to face No. 15 Boulder. The Panthers shutout Grandview 4-0 in the opening round.

“Every game is going to be a battle,” Bierman said with the Mustangs moving forward in the postseason. “Teams are coming to play. Teams are coming to win. You have to find away to win.”