Gorman-Las Vegas collision set

Even while building an unbeaten season, Bishop Gorman's boys soccer team always kept one eye on Las Vegas.

Finally the Gaels (21-0-1) get to look the Wildcats (16-4) in the face from opposite sides of the field with the Class 4A state championship on the line.

In the state semifinals, Gorman held on during a frenzied final five minutes for a 4-3 victory over Bishop Manogue on Friday at Damonte Ranch High School.

The outcome set up a meeting against Las Vegas at 4 p.m. today, a matchup of the state champs of the past three years.

Shane Thompson scored twice for the Gaels, who weren't ensured victory until a shot by Bishop Manogue's Steve Carlson rolled just wide of the net in the final seconds. That came after Manogue had closed to within 4-3 with a goal by Jose Anguiano in the 76th minute.

"We had a feeling that when it was 4-2 that we couldn't let them have one," Gorman coach Doug Borgel said. "We felt like we had them on the ropes and they were pretty much done, but we had a feeling if they got one it would give them new life, and it certainly did."

The Gaels scored twice in six minutes to turn a 2-2 tie into a 4-2 lead, with Michael Gray's goal in the 57th minute preceding Thompson's in the 63rd.

The start of the game was just as action packed as the end. Austin Cain scored 40 seconds in for Gorman, but the Miners responded with two goals in the next 15 minutes to take a 2-1 lead.

"They're clearly the best team we've played all year, and it's unfortunate it couldn't have been the final, but it was a great effort by both teams," Borgel said.

Thompson's first goal tied the game at 2-2 in the 32nd minute.

Gorman (21-0-1) won state titles in 2006 and 2007, but that streak was broken by Las Vegas last year. The Gaels lost in the semifinals last year and didn't get a chance to play the Wildcats to defend their titles. They've been looking forward to a shot at them ever since.

• Las Vegas 1, Douglas 0 -- Barely a minute after being knocked to the ground while chasing a ball into the corner, Joaquin Rivas found himself in front of the goal on the receiving end of a perfect pass from Ruben Amezcua.

Rivas drilled a hard shot off the fingertips of Douglas goalkeeper Ivan Gonzalez in the final minute to give Las Vegas a 1-0 state semifinal victory over Douglas at Damonte Ranch.

"I just got back up and I had to keep on going," Rivas said of being fouled.

Rivas' goal allowed the Wildcats to keep going, as well, keeping alive their quest to repeat as 4A state champions.

"We're defending state champions," coach Vince Hart said. "We're proud to be that, and we're going to be defending state champions until someone tells us to go home tomorrow."

Las Vegas controlled the ball in its offensive end for almost the entire second half, but with nothing to show for it. Until Rivas' goal, the Wildcats' best chance came in the 53rd minute when a shot by Ivan Chamorro hit the crossbar and bounced back to Rivas, whose header was stopped by Gonzalez.

"I thought we dominated both halves, and I don't think our goalkeeper made a save, a realistic save," Hart said.

CLASS 3A BOYS

• Sparks 3, Virgin Valley 0 -- At Reno, Sparks used its speed to blank the Bulldogs in a Class 3A state semifinal.

"They were as good as advertised," Virgin Valley coach Bob Snell said. "Their speed was incredible."

The Railroaders rolled up a 24-6 advantage in total shots and put 11 on goal. Nevertheless, Virgin Valley trailed only 1-0 at halftime and had two quality scoring chances in the second half before the Railroaders put the game away.

Freshman goalkeeper Nathan Lee had eight saves for the Bulldogs (15-2-2).

CLASS 4A GIRLS

• Douglas 4, Faith Lutheran 0 -- At Reno, Katie Dry scored twice to lead Douglas over Faith Lutheran (17-2-1) in a Class 4A semifinal at Damonte Ranch.

Douglas will play Galena in the final at 10 a.m. today.