Roaring Fork Edges Eagle Ridge on Penalties
Roaring Fork won a Class 3A boys soccer state quarterfinal shootout 4-1 after a red-card-filled game in Carbondale.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Soccer
Roaring Fork, the No. 3 seed, defeated No. 6 Eagle Ridge Academy 4-1 on penalty kicks Saturday in Carbondale after the teams finished regulation and two 10-minute overtimes tied 2-2. The second half featured four goals and four red cards, including those issued to Michael Parada and Randy Candela.
Why it matters
The win advances Roaring Fork to a state semifinal, but the team will be without Parada, Candela, and head coach Nick Forbes after the red cards. Forbes said the red cards were unjustified and that the game was not being officiated fairly.
The match produced four red cards in the second half and a shootout final of 4-1, with Roaring Fork finishing its season at 15-2-1 before the semifinal. Whether the suspensions will be contested has not been reported.
The players
Roaring Fork
Roaring Fork is the Colorado high school soccer program that advanced as the No. 3 seed in the Class 3A boys state bracket.
Eagle Ridge Academy
Eagle Ridge Academy is the Colorado high school soccer program seeded No. 6 in the Class 3A boys state bracket that lost on penalty kicks.
Nick Forbes
Nick Forbes is the head coach of Roaring Fork who received a second yellow card and criticized the officiating after the match.
The details
Felipe Oliva tied the game at 2-2 with six minutes remaining in regulation, crashing the net after a saved free kick. Play was stopped for nearly 10 minutes after Parada's second red card, and Didier Mendoza and Forbes were also shown red cards before regulation ended.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Roaring Fork defeats Eagle Ridge Academy in the state quarterfinal on penalties.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Roaring Fork meets DSST: Conservatory Green Hornets in the semifinal in Denver.
Saturday, November 14, 2026: The 3A state championship game is played.
Season Trajectory
Roaring Fork's penalty-shootout win keeps it in the Class 3A state bracket under the CHSAA tournament format, with a semifinal against No. 2 DSST: Conservatory Green Hornets to follow. The suspensions of Parada, Candela, and Forbes could shape how the team approaches the remaining games.
Roaring Fork's semifinal against DSST arrives without Parada, Candela, and Forbes, which changes the lineup and sideline for the match. Fans tracking the bracket can follow the Wednesday semifinal in Denver with the championship game set for November 14.
The takeaway
The result shows how a single game can hinge on disciplinary decisions as much as on play, and the semifinal will test how well Roaring Fork adapts without three key figures. Following the Wednesday game will show whether the team can carry its shootout win into the state final.
What happens next
Roaring Fork faces DSST: Conservatory Green Hornets in the state semifinal on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Denver, with the winner advancing to the 3A state championship game on Saturday, November 14.
Further reading
For more coverage of the state bracket, see Soccer in Colorado.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Aspen Times.
