Niwot booters get a second shot at Rock Canyon, state title

By Cheng Sio, For the Ledger

All season long, the Niwot Cougars boys soccer team`s mantra was to be “a little bit better.”

So far, so good.

For starters, they are 17-2 this season compared to last year`s 16-3-1 mark. A little bit better.

After losing 5-1 to Broomfield in the regular season, Niwot exacted revenge in the semifinals of the 2009 Class 4A playoffs by shutting out Broomfield 1-0. Last year, the Cougars beat the Eagles 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Prevailing over Broomfield a round further and accomplishing it via a shutout represents “a little bit better.”

On Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Dick`s Sporting Goods Park, the No. 4-seed Cougars have the opportunity to be “a little bit better” one more time when they face sixth-seeded Rock Canyon for the state championship. Last season, Rock Canyon defeated Niwot 3-0 for the state title.

“I never thought it would happen twice in a row,” senior goalkeeper Connor Wood said. “It`s an amazing feeling not only to get a second chance, but a second chance at Rock Canyon. Getting a chance to play the same team in the same game is like a million-to-one. I`m pumped to play this game.”

A year ago, Wood and his teammates were anything but pumped. They watched Rock Canyon celebrate and felt the angst of falling short of the Holy Grail.

“I felt like I wanted to fast forward a year from then and be in the finals again,” junior midfielder Santiago Velez said. “We`re glad we get to play them again. We felt last year wasn`t what it should have been.”

Head coach Steve Lepper said his team returned to the championship game by not overreacting to a few bumps on the road.

Niwot's Santiago Velez, right, battles Broomfield's Garrett Seitz for the ball during a game Oct. 3. Broomfield won the regular season matchup, but the Cougars knocked the first-ranked Eagles out of the playoffs last week and will play for the 4A state title Wednesday.

When the Cougars were shocked by Silver Creek 1-0 in September, Lepper said he spoke with the team about how the loss was a learning experience. After the loss to Broomfield a couple of weeks later, Lepper and his team admitted it lost to a better team.

They decided to move on thinking they would get another shot at Broomfield in the playoffs. The Cougars were right.

This display of poise makes Lepper believe they are the better team in this year`s bout.

“I think compared to last year, we`re more experienced, more mature and more prepared.” Lepper said. “This year, we feel we`re the better team whereas last year, we were the underdogs.”

Lepper and his coaching staff watched Rock Canyon beat Mullen 1-0 in double overtime Saturday after Niwot`s win over Broomfield. Afterwards, he texted all 19 players with the following message: “Rock Canyon in the finals. Redemption.”

His players responded: “This is what we wanted.”

With a chance to rewrite the script, the Cougars could become Niwot`s first boys state champion in soccer if they have final say.