Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
Next up in the family, Fairview’s Oliver Ruzzin and Boulder’s Caleb Kalisher each have the opportunity to do what any loyal Knights or Panthers player would cherish. Well, two things. Add to the lore of the city rivalry. And take one step closer to a state championship. For the fifth time since 2010, the Front Range foes are going to meet up in the boys soccer postseason. Next Tuesday, a spot in the 5A quarterfinals will be in the balance for either the eighth-seeded Knights or No. 9 Panthers, who won their opening-round games just a few miles away from each other Wednesday night. Their last meeting in the playoffs was in 2022. The Knights’ 2-1, second-round win featured the older brothers of Oliver and Caleb. Tate Ruzzin had the game-winning assist in the 78th minute, ending both a stellar season by the Panthers and the high school career of goalie Owen Kalisher. “I know playoff games in general get a lot more heated and tense, but especially since it’s the Boulder-Fairview rivalry game, it’s going to get very heated,” Oliver Ruzzin said after his team beat No. 25 Westminster 4-0 on its turf field in the first round. “Hopefully we’re on the good side of things.” In the teams’ regular season meeting on Sept. 30, the Panthers rallied to beat the Knights, 4-3. Ruzzin had a four-point night with a goal and two assists in the loss. The only player with more was Boulder’s Hayden Neale, who had five (two goals and an assist) as the Panthers rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit. Neale also scored twice in Boulder’s 4-2 win over No. 24 ThunderRidge at Recht Field on Wednesday. Coach Hardy Kalisher said the Panthers weren’t 100%. Many of his starters have been dealing with flu-like symptoms but he hopes they’ll be healthier with the five-day break ahead of Tuesday. As for the Knights … four different players scored in their win. Leading the way, Josh Rayder took a centering pass from Wetera Yota-Peltz to get Fairview on the board in the 8th minute. Not long afterward, Calvin Broughton added to it as he barreled full steam at the goal and got a touch. With the momentum, his entire body followed the ball into the back of the net. Going into their second-round meeting, Boulder is 2-0-1 against the Fairview in their past three matchups. The Knights, however, have won the last three in the playoffs. Highlighting the game’s impact, Coach Kalisher called Tuesday the second-most important game in these playoffs behind the state title game. Fairview coach Eric Schuler said the rivalry is the most exciting in the state. “I work at the college level, I’ve worked at the pro level,” Schuler said. And honestly the most exciting game in Colorado is the Boulder-Fairview game. That’s why the guys like being a part of it.” All five local 5A teams won in the first round on Wednesday. No. 4 Legacy will host No. 13 Broomfield in Round 2. No. 16 Erie will travel to No. 1 Ralston Valley. In 3A’s first round, No. 2 Jefferson Academy and No. 5 Peak to Peak advanced with respective 4-0 victories. Defending champ No. 26 Holy Family was eliminated by No. 7 Coal Ridge, 3-1.
