The No. 3-seeded Steamboat Springs High School boys’ soccer team has advanced to the Colorado High School Activities Association 3A state soccer championship game, their first since 1996, outlasting the No. 2-seeded Jefferson Academy Jaguars, avenging last season’s second round loss in the “Snow Game”.

Tied 0-0 after regulation, with neither team scoring in the 2-15 minute “Golden Goal” overtime periods, the game was decided on penalty kicks after playing 110 minutes of soccer. 

The Sailors controlled possession, created more opportunities and battled through a hostile environment with a heavy Jefferson Academy-based crowd, with the game located 10 minutes from the Jefferson campus.

Steamboat was unable to find the back of the net with a strong effort from the opposing goalkeeper, but the deeper into the game they got, the better the Sailors played, showing their grit and resilience along with stronger fitness as they started to wear the Jaguars down.

A penalty call from the referee resulted in the Sailors having to play a man down for the last 4 minutes of the second OT.

To the delight of the well-traveled Steamboat crowd of almost 100 friends and family, the Sailors prevailed 4-3 in penalty kicks.

Senior Henry Jamison, junior Nathan Rind, junior Kane Morris and senior exchange student Daniele Gui all converted their kicks with yet another stellar performance from junior goalkeeper Charlie Wiedel, getting his 10th “clean sheet” in 19 contests, also stopping two of the five Jaguar attempts to seal the hard-fought, well-deserved semifinal victory.

The Sailors now advance to the finals where they will face the No. 4-seeded Kent Denver Sun Devils on at noon Saturday at the Colorado Switchbacks Weidner Stadium in Colorado Springs.