COLORADO SPRINGS – Weeks passed before Rocco Manerbina got his opportunity in the Class 4A boys soccer state title match.
The senior forward knew the first corner kick of the match was his set piece. Liam Sapuppo took a short pass, beat his man 1-on-1 and played a tight pass to Manerbina and just four minutes into the match his goal gave the Mustangs an early lead in a 2-0 win against Greeley Central at Weidner Field on Saturday.
Roman Cedillo added a goal in the 67th minute and goalkeeper Collin Vescio turned in a clean sheet for the Mustangs (18-1-1) who claimed their second state title all time and first since 2011.
“It was our first corner that we had a set play on the books for,” Manerbina said. “Liam came short and played the ball with a chance to go 1-on-1. After he cut back he found me and all I saw was that I was open and the back post. I just hit it. I knew as long as I kept the ball on the field and one frame it was either going into the back of the net, chipping the keeper or finding someone else back there who would bury it in the net.”
No. 1 seeded Mullen (18-1-1) withstood an early flurry from the Wildcats (17-1-2). After the Manerbina goal, an Allyson Izaguirre Almendarez shot was turned away by Vescio, but the Mullen keeper had to dive and there was an open net.
A pair of point-blank shots by Joel Gonzalez and Diego Guzman were turned away by the Mullen backline which sank into position to cover for their keeper.
“We are a defensive team in our hearts,” Mullen coach Matt Degitis said. “We had to find a way in and we knew it wasn’t going to come easy. We had to stay persistent and keep coming.”
In the second half, with the Mustangs’ pressure building and the Wildcats hunting an equalizer, Cedillo settled on a ball that popped right to him as he moved towards the net from just outside the box. He played a close touch, timed his run and fired off a right-footed shot that led to an insurance goal and a 2-0 lead.
“I didn’t want to think about it like it was something too crazy,” Cedillo said. “All I wanted to do was treat it like it was a practice shot and slot it like I would in practice. I didn’t want to let the nerves get to me.”
It was the first ever appearance for Greeley Central in a state title match and the Mustangs are the first team to get a positive result against the Wildcats all season.
“I feel like I’ve been with these boys 24/7 the last three to four years,” Degitis said. “This is what we set out to accomplish. This and so much more. Today I thought they were brilliant. Greeley Central is an unbelievable team and the players on that field today were incredible. So much credit to them and the things they were able to do.
“We talked about how we would be the best team they see all year. There is no other team like us with our ability to press and win first and second balls. Our ability to keep coming and put you under so much pressure is relentless.”
