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The Aspen High School boys soccer team nearly pulled out a shocker on Friday, falling 3-2 in overtime to No. 4-ranked Roaring Fork under the lights on the AHS turf. Trailing 2-1 at halftime, Aspen evened the game with a goal with about 19 minutes to play in regulation.
Goalie Henry Palmaz made a terrific save on a Roaring Fork penalty kick with less than 10 minutes to play that sent it to extra time. However, the Rams were awarded a second PK with literally no time left in the second and final 10-minute overtime session, and this time they found net to give the Rams the sudden-death win. A missed kick would have meant a tie.
Roaring Fork improved to 8-1-1 overall and 3-0 in Class 3A Western Slope League play. The Rams next host Basalt on Friday in Carbondale.
Aspen fell to 1-10 overall and 1-3 in WSL play. It was the second meeting of the season between AHS and Roaring Fork, with the Rams winning the Sept. 28 contest in Carbondale, 7-2.
Aspen is off until traveling to Middle Park for a non-league game on Oct. 19.
Aspen boys tennis cruises in regional play, will send all 11 players to state
The Aspen High School boys tennis team rolled to its regional title on Friday, winning six of seven tournaments at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction.
Even the loss resulted in a runner-up finish, meaning the Skiers will send all 11 players to the Class 4A state tournament, held Oct. 17-19 at Pueblo City Park.
No. 1 singles player Christian Kelly had the only defeat, losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to Vail’s Federico Bettazzi in the regional final. Alex Mosher won at 2 singles, beating Vail’s Troy Rindone in the final, 6-3, 6-1. The No. 3 singles title went to Aspen’s Liam Sunkel, who won 6-1, 6-0 over Vail’s Langley Cerovich in the final.
Aspen’s Lukee Tralins and Georges Ghali handled things at No. 1 doubles, beating Vail’s Nate Anderson and Nate Nabonsal in the final, 6-1, 6-1. Aspen’s Bryce Cordts-Pearce and Robert Holton won at 2 doubles, beating Steamboat’s Xander Dalke and Gabe Gray in the final, 6-1, 6-2.
At No. 3 doubles, Aspen’s Ethan Godfrey and Liam Farrey won 6-2, 6-3 over Vail’s Rav Seller and Leo Yang. At No. 4 doubles, it was Aspen’s Dyer Hunting and Quinn McKie over Vail’s Kai Otsuk and Carter Strauss, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Aspen also sent all 11 players to the state tournament last year, where it finished seventh.
Basalt High School, which sent 11 players to the regional on Friday, did not have anyone qualify for the state tournament. This is only the second varsity season for the program, which began in 2017 as a club team. BHS also didn’t qualify anyone for state in their inaugural season.