The Vanguard School’s boys soccer team won its first postseason match in 10 years long before the season started. 

The Coursers won it back in May. All it took was an idea from coach Emil Banzhaf. 

“Our school is all about excellence academically and when we come out on the field, why don’t we bring that out on the field? Why is this just a club? Why is this just something extra to do,” he said he told his team. 

Benzhaf’s team took his words to heart and on Wednesday, the seventh-seed Coursers defeated visiting No. 10 Front Range Christian 4-1. The result marks Vanguard’s first playoff win since 2015 in its first home playoff match. 

The Coursers (11-2-3) won six games last season and four the season before that. After the team’s 11th victory in the second round of the 2A state playoffs, senior DJ Gerber was elated. 

“(This win) means so much. I couldn’t ask for a better team. I’ve stuck with this team for four years through the highs and the lows and it’s awesome that it’s all wrapping up together and we’re going on a strong playoff run,” Gerber said. 

The senior captain gave the Coursers an early lead, converting a penalty kick seven minutes into the contest. In the moments leading up to the penalty, sophomore Jacob Figueroa stole the ball from a Front Range Christian defender and drew a hard foul in the box. 

Gerber repaid his younger teammate in the 12th minute. Dribbling the ball into the 18-yard box on a breakaway, he passed back to a trailing Figueroa to double the Coursers’ advantage. 

“Jacob’s always been a hard worker, man. He’ll work his butt off and I’m gonna reciprocate that and work everything I have into what he’s got, and so we just feed off of energy on this team. When we start off strong, that’s what gives us the passion to finish the game strong,” Gerber said. 

The Vanguard players fed off of each other’s energy late in the first half, scoring their final two goals in rapid succession. 

Senior Kiyo Phonexayphova made it 3-0 Vanguard in the 32nd minute and two minutes later, senior Louis Alhaeuser’s header off a corner kick found twine.

The Coursers’ four goals Wednesday are the most they’ve scored since Sept. 11 against William Smith. Even more impressive is that they did it without junior leading scorer Isai Savelkoul, who is working his way back from injury. 

“The big thing with Isai, he’s a team captain and he’s a big part of this team and we dedicated the win tonight to him,” Banzhaf said. “I know he wants more than anything to play and the last 2 1/2 weeks, he has not missed a single practice. He’s been here, supporting the team, helping lead drills, encouraging everybody, our No. 1 cheerleader on the sideline.”

The team lives to support each other on and off the pitch. Soccer is commonly known as “The Beautiful Game” and Banzhaf said it’s beautiful to watch his team’s level of connectivity and the passes and plays they’re able to make. 

“It’s sexy soccer is what we call it,” he said. 

But the Coursers aren’t moving on to the 2A quarterfinals solely based on their coach’s great idea or “sexy” passes. They have grit, work ethic, and a refusal to buckle in the face of adversity. 

Savelkoul’s injury is one of several that Vanguard has weathered this season, per Banzhaf. The Courser coach said his back line has been especially vulnerable. Even so, Vanguard has conceded just 16 goals this season. 

“It’s all about effort, I think we’re deep enough, we have enough strong subs that they push each other,” Banzhaf said. “They know me. They know if they’re not out there sprinting, I have somebody else that I can put on that will.”

This weekend, the playoffs will test Vanguard again. The Coursers will play at No. 2 Salida. The Spartans are one of two teams to beat Vanguard this season. For Gerber, the key to success is to continue to embrace the values the team has held all season.  

“Passion, kindness, respect. It’s easy to get hot-headed on the field, but we are Vanguard and we need to keep our heads level and just show respect and kindness to others all the time. Be the difference in the world,” he said.