BROOMFIELD — For the record, Jim Davidson claims he is not a superstitious guy.
But in the final game of the regular season against Monarch, the Broomfield soccer coach ditched his normal sideline ensemble — including the long black socks — for a suit.
“I just wanted to remind the boys that we always approach it professionally,” Davidson said. “We had our struggles at the end of the season, and it was just a way to remind them that we want to disciplined, work hard and do it the right way.”
So on Thursday night in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium against Lakewood, Davidson again had on his Sunday best — accompanied with a stunning blue and white Broomfield cap to complete the look.
It worked. Again.
Broomfield shook off what playoff jitters existed early on and advanced to the second round with a 3-0 victory over the Tigers. The Eagles will travel to Mountain Vista — a 4-0 winner against Brighton — on Wednesday.
“Maybe a little superstitious,” Davidson said.
The No. 12-seeded Eagles were creative early on against Lakewood, finding gaps in the defensive back line, but finishing was an issue.
And to their credit, the Tigers (seeded No. 21) were quick to try and create on the counter. Lakewood got a couple of good looks early on against goalie Michael Genge, not enough to threaten, but enough to make the Broomfield back line aware that this wasn’t going to be a walkover.
“They were playing that early ball over, or they were trying to at least, but we kept our shape in the back with some depth,” senior Chris Sharkey said. “And we got them out.”
The Eagles finally got the goal they were looking for in the 16th minute. It was Sharkey who found himself deep in the attacking zone, and what was a miss-hit ball intended for the far post instead floated to the near post of Lakewood goalie Hector Moreno’s net. An onrushing Porter Milner made a play at the ball and Moreno lost track, allowing Sharkey’s chance to give the Eagles a lead.
“It was a ball in and there was a little chaos in the box and it just happened to go in,” said Sharkey of his first tally of the season.
Sharkey again got involved in the offense midway though the second half. Desperate to stretch the lead and light on quality chances, Sharkey played a ball from deep in the midfield ahead to a streaking Cody Ewing, who finished his one-on-one chance with Moreno.
“It was great run by Cody,” Sharkey said. “It was pretty simple ball and he made a good run and had them beat.”
Said Davidson of his senior’s big night: “We always talk about if you work really hard in this program, you create your own luck. And, nobody outworks Sharkey. I think that goal, albeit a little lucky, was earned in a sense.”
The Eagles put a ribbon on their opening match in 70th minute.
It was Ewing again that got behind the Tigers back line and was eventually dragged down in the box by Isaac Arnold. The referee awarded Broomfield a penalty kick and senior captain Porter Milner finished with ease.
Broomfield had a chance to scrimmage Mountain Vista early in the season, and the Eagles are more than aware of what looms on the horizon against the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles.
“They are a really organized team and Theresa (Echtermeyer) is one of the top coaches in the state and they have always been really successful there,” Davidson said. “I think they are very evenly matched teams and we play a similar style, so it should be a really good match and hopefully our guys travel well.”
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Broomfield 3, Lakewood 0
At Broomfield H.S.
Lakewood (7-9) 0 0 — 0
Broomfield (9-4-3) 1 2 — 3
Goals (assists) — Broomfield: Chris Sharkey (unassisted), 16th minute; Cody Ewing (Sharkey), 63rd; Porter Milner (penalty kick), 70th.
Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) — Lakewood: Hector Moreno (80-3-8); Broomfield: Michael Genge (80-0-4).
