It took less only a few minutes for Jefferson’s boys soccer team to show last Thursday why people in Edgewater are developing Saints fever.
Playing in its regular-season finale at home against Lake County, Jefferson’s Yimi Serrano scored two quick goals against the Panthers in the opening six minutes of play at Jim Turner Field. The early blitz never let up as the Saints rolled to an 11-1 victory behind goals from seven players.
“That’s one thing that I keep preaching to the kids, not just for this game — always put on the pressure first and try to score first,” first-year Jefferson coach Julio Ocana said. “Make sure that we have the momentum going on our side.”
A season to remember thus far that included the team’s first ever Frontier League title took another turn Tuesday. Jefferson (14-2 record) earned the No. 14 seed in the Class 3A state playoffs and hosted Salida in the first round. The Saints blanked Salida 3-0 to advance to the second round Saturday, Oct. 29. If third-seeded Kent Denver gets past Rifle on Thursday, Oct. 27, the Saints will travel to Kent Denver with a trip to the quarterinals on the line.
Ocana had high hopes that his team would garner a higher seed and possibly earn a second home game, but understood dominating the Frontier League doesn’t generate as much respect.
“I really wish we could get a No. 8 seed or better so we can get that second home game,” Ocana said. “The probability is we’ll probably hit a No. 13 seed, host that one playoff game, and then we’re going to have to go on the road and be road warriors.”
“Even though the Frontier League is a weaker league, we did play some pretty tough opponents,” Ocana added. “We were really put in check a few times and given a perspective of really tough soccer.”
Serrano, who led the team with 24 goals during the regular season, put Jefferson up early against Lake County by grounding a ball from the left side into the back of the net. Less than two minutes later he was at it again, kicking a bouncing ball in mid-air over the Panthers goalkeeper.
Jose Zubia, Wilfredo Huerta and Brian Gonzalez added two goals each in the rout. Jose Parra, Adiel Hinojos and Jerson Serrano also scored, and Jonathan Hinojos and Oscar Chaires combined for four saves in net.
“For Jefferson, it’s crazy. They always underestimate us,” Serrano said. “They think we’re the low school, the ones that are on the bottom of everybody else. That just makes us stronger — we’re the underdogs.”
The Saints made the postseason a year ago as the No. 30 seed but were eliminated in the first round by Colorado Academy. Having rolled past the majority of its opponents this season — the only losses came to Kennedy and Elizabeth — Jefferson had high hopes of pushing even further in 2011.
“It feels great. It’s the second year we’ve gone to the first round,” Zubia said. “Hopefully this year we can make it further. I think we can do it — we’ve got a good team here.”
Ocana took over the team in the fall and immediately made an impact with the program. Serrano and Zubia have combined for 44 of the team’s 71 goals, but Ocana was quick to point out that there is plenty of talent on the field, and not just up top, either.
“I think they’re really going to underestimate what we can bring,” Ocana said. “We have a really tough defensive team and we can score some goals.”
The coach added that the big key this season has been keeping everyone in check and on an equal line — he went on to say that by learning to get along, everything else falls into place.
Jefferson wasn’t about to be intimidated by what the best of 3A had to offer. After all, 13 wins in a season have proven that the Saints belong among the best.
“It’s showing them that we can certainly play soccer,” Zubia said. “Even though we’re 3A, we can still be at their level.”