Boys Soccer: Rangeview beats weather, Regis Jesuit to open 5A playoffs

AURORA | Ruben Zuniga’s scored some pretty goals over the course of the season for the Rangeview boys soccer team, but none have been bigger — thus far — than the simple one he had Wednesday night.

The senior striker took advantage of an empty net to score the eventual game-winner with just over 12 minutes left and 13th-seeded Rangeview held on for 2-1 victory over No. 20 Regis Jesuit in an all-Aurora matchup at Aurora Public Schools Stadium to open the Class 5A boys state soccer playoffs.

Sophomore Marcos Wolde had the other goal for Rangeview, which saw coach Vic Strouse get ejected from a contest for the first time in 35 years of coaching. The Raiders — who gained payback for an overtime loss to Regis Jesuit in the playoffs last season — will be without Strouse for the second round when they visit No. 4 Smoky Hill, a 5-0 winner over No. 29 Doherty, on Monday.

Trailing for most of the game, Regis Jesuit (8-7-1) got the tying goal from Christian Naes midway through the second half when he took a feed from Luis Hernandez at point blank range and put the ball in the net, despite Rangeview players and coaches pleading for an offside call.

Just 20 seconds later, Strouse voiced his objections and was hit with his second yellow card of the game, which triggered his ejection.

With time winding down in a tie game, Rangeview got the go-ahead score on the end of a sequence that stemmed from a long free kick opportunity.

A long serve put the ball in the goal box and a group of players from both teams converged on it as it rolled toward the end line. Regis Jesuit players thought the ball had gone over the end line, but with no whistle blowing, Alex Amador crossed the ball back in front to Zuniga, who put the ball into the empty net for his 14th goal of the season.

Weather conditions worsened and severely impacted Regis Jesuit’s ability to come up with the tying score.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

(13) RANGEVIEW 2, (20) REGIS JESUIT 1

Score by halves:

Regis Jesuit  0  1 — 1

Rangeview    1  1 — 2

SCORING

First half

Rangeview — Marcos Wolde, 5th minute

Second half

Regis Jesuit — Christian Naes (Luis Hernandez);