Stingy Silverado exceeds expectations

Silverado wasn't filled with high expectations for its soccer season.

Returning players from the Skyhawks' Class 4A state runner-up squad last season didn't think they'd qualify for the regional playoffs.

So much for that.

Silverado (16-2-3) won the Sunrise Region and is returning to the state semifinals. The Skyhawks will face Douglas at 6 p.m. today at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno.

Defending state champion Bishop Gorman (14-1-3) faces South Tahoe in the other semifinal at 4 p.m. The winners return to play for the state crown at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"We have a great team spirit," Silverado senior Esau Salazar said. "We didn't even expect to make the playoffs, and we did."

The Skyhawks, though, might have been sandbagging.

"I knew we had talent. The problem was we just didn't have many players," Silverado coach John Cwik said. "I knew our defense could win us a lot of games. It was a matter of if we could get the one goal."

Southeast Division champions, the Skyhawks beat Rancho 2-0 in the regional quarterfinals and then edged Basic 3-2 in the semifinals.

Against Eldorado in the regional final, Silverado survived an avalanche of pressure and the loss of starting goalkeeper Joey Mora to a red card.

Mora must sit out today's game, as well.

The Skyhawks aren't a high-scoring team but seem to have a knack to get goals at the right time. Freshman midfielder Chase Leaders scored three goals in the region tournament.

"We can't score four or five goals, so we can't give up four or five goals," Cwik said.

Gorman knows all about scoring at the right time, surviving three major scares in the region to return to state.

"It's been an unbelievable ride," Gorman coach Nick Arbelaez said. "It's been everybody contributing."

The Gaels trailed in all three regional games, winning two in overtime and the other in a penalty-kick shootout. Austin Cain's double-overtime goal lifted Gorman to a 2-1 win over Centennial in the regional final.

"I have 26 players. I don't have a superstar," Arbelaez said. "I'll take 26 players over a team with a superstar any day."

Gorman's lone loss came to Western in the next-to-last match of the regular season. The Gaels avenged that setback by defeating Western in the regional semifinals.

"We've survived because we believed in ourselves," Arbelaez said.

Faith Lutheran will represent Southern Nevada in the boys and girls Class 3A state tournaments, which also begin in Reno today.

The Crusaders play North Tahoe in the girls semifinals at noon today at UNR's Mackay Stadium. The boys play at 2 p.m., also against North Tahoe at Mackay. Both 3A title games are set for Saturday at Damonte Ranch.