Top-seeded Ralston Valley kicks off 5A boys soccer state tournament at NAAC

ARVADA — Being the No. 1 seed always brings expectations and pressure.

Top-seeded Ralston Valley had those feelings Wednesday night at the North Area Athletic Complex in the opening round of the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament.

“There is extra weight being the No. 1 seed,” Ralston Valley coach John Doody said. “We are proud of being the No. 1 seed, but there are three or four teams that I think deserve the No. 1 seed. We got stuck with the target on our back.”

The final result against No. 32-seeded Adams City on paper might look like a routine 3-0 victory for Ralston Valley, but it was surely not. The Eagles and Mustangs were tied 0-0 through the first 60 minutes.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Ralston Valley senior Adriano Lombardi said. “We knew they wanted it as much as we did.”

Lombardi actually broke the ice with a goal in the 62nd minute. Senior Henry Brisson got to a ball that looked to be heading out of the end-line, but Brisson was able to center the ball to an on running Lombardi.

“I saw it coming in and thought I could get to it,” Lombardi said of the goal that deflected off his shoulder and past Adams City junior goalie Joel Hernandez-Marroquin. “I’m just glad I got to it.”

It was the just the second goal of the season for Lombardi. The senior put in his second goal of the night rocketing in a rebound in the 73rd minute to put Ralston Valley up 3-0.

“AJ (Lombardi) is going to be ‘Man of the Match’,” Doody said. “He was just spectacular tonight.”

Ralston Valley’s heading scorer — senior Ethan Orchard — had a goal sandwiched between Lombardi’s two goals. Orchard’s 16th goal of the season came in the 69th minute. 

“At halftime we discussed about being patient and continuing to play our way,” Doody said. “I think the boys executed really well in both halves, but in the second half they just sped things up just a little bit. I think that was the difference.”

Ralston Valley senior goalie Ben Brown and the Mustangs’ stingy defense recored its 12th shutout victory. Adams City (10-5-1 record) nearly took the lead early in the second half on a shot from near midfield that Brown was able to get a hand on.

“(Adams City) scored on a 50-yard ball against Skyview that was insane,” Doody said when asked about Brown’s toughest challenge of the night. “We literally showed the clip of that last night to the team. It was the last piece of tape I showed them.”

Doody will got back to the film to get a look at Ralston Valley’s second-round opponent — No. 16 Erie. The Tigers (11-3-2) edged Heritage 1-0 on Wednesday night.

“I feel very much relieved to get through this one,” Doody said. “Now we’ll get ready for Erie.”

Ralston Valley will be back at NAAC on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to host its second-round game. The Mustangs (15-0-1) will be sporting a 14-game winning streak heading into next week. 

If the Mustangs advance to the quarterfinals Saturday, Nov. 8, at Englewood High School, it is likely Ralston Valley will face a familiar foe. Boulder (No. 9 seed) and Fairview (No. 8 seed) are the other highest seeds in Ralston Valley’s quadrant.

Ralston Valley defeated Boulder 4-0 and Fairview 5-1 back in early September at NAAC. 

“We defintely won’t overlook anyone in the playoffs,” Lombardi said. “It’s a new season starting now.”