Steamboat soccer to host D'Evelyn in Wednesday playoff game
Steamboat Springs High School's Christopher Holmquist gets to the ball in front of D'Evelyn forward Bryce Slama during an October 2009
John F. Russell
Steamboat Springs — For the first time since 2009, the Steamboat Springs High School boys' soccer team will host a playoff game at Gardner Field. That season the Sailors lost 1-0 to D'Evelyn in an October snowstorm, losing on an own goal, and now everything has come full circle with the Jaguars set to return to the Yampa Valley this week.
SSHS (12-3), as the No. 16 seed in the Class 4A bracket released Sunday, will host D'Evelyn (7-5-2), the No. 17 seed, Wednesday in the first round of the state playoffs. As of Sunday the time had yet to be determined, but Sailor head coach Rob Bohlmann expects the game to start about 6 p.m.
"They were very strong last year. I expect they will be very strong this year," Bohlmann said. "They were having to battle game in and game out (in their league). That's definitely an advantage to them."
While the 2009 meeting might be the most memorable match between the teams, it's not the most recent. The two teams met in the first round of the playoffs last season as well, with No. 29-seed SSHS losing 4-1 to No. 4-seeded D'Evelyn, in Denver.
The teams look to be more evenly matched this season, and Wednesday's weather forecast is more favorable than the 2009 meeting.
"It snows like this in Denver and we don't play," former D'Evelyn coach Brian Lux was quoted as saying following the 2009 game.
Steamboat is one of three Western Slope teams to have earned a spot in the 4A state tournament. League champion Battle Mountain is the No. 3 seed and is hosting No. 30 Mitchell in the first round, while Eagle Valley is No. 13 and hosting No. 20 Palmer Ridge.
"All three of us are in the top half of the bracket and hosting a home game," Bohlmann said of the Western Slope teams. "That's spot on and very reflective of how competitive our league is. We are all ecstatic and looking forward to it."
Should Steamboat advance past D'Evelyn on Wednesday, they would face the winner of top-seeded Cheyenne Mountain and No. 32 Fort Lupton on Nov. 3.
For the full bracket, click here.
To reach Austin Colbert, call 970-871-4204, email acolbert@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Austin_Colbert
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