Riley Miltko’s goal came late in the game for Pine Creek.

Better than never. Precisely 41.9 seconds better.

Miltko scored the game’s only goal in the final minute of the third period against Standley Lake in a 1-0 4A ice hockey quarterfinals victory on Tuesday at Colorado College’s Ed Robson Arena.

The strike from Miltko came after he thought he hit the go-ahead goal earlier in the third period, but learned that it was negated.

“They told me that goal never went in, but I saw a black blob go in and everyone started cheering,” Miltko said. “In my head, that’s a goal and we’re up 1-0. Let’s finish the game. … We were able to recover really well. I saw their goalie coming out of the crease and that gave me a ton of time to go around and put it in the net.”

Miltko’s almost-goal came with 10:52 left in the game, but the score remained 0-0 and the Eagles regrouped and staved off the No. 6-seeded Gators (11-8-1), who were shut out for the first time since Dec. 9, 2024. The Eagles (17-2-1), the tournament’s No. 3 seed, finished with 38 shots on goal with their final shot coming via Miltko’s heroics.

John Thien, the Eagles goalkeeper, said he’s watched Miltko pull that move on him and his teammates in practice. To watch the moment unravel from the opposite end of the ice, and against an opponent, Thien had two words come to mind.

“Holy cow,” Thien said. “I couldn’t believe that just happened. I knew in 41 seconds, I could let out all the excitement from that moment. But I couldn’t lose focus and had to stick to my game.”

While Miltko’s goal gave the Eagles the victory, Thien’s efforts ensured Pine Creek blanked the Gators. Thien finished with 37 saves including 15 in the third period. Five of those third-period saves came in a 20-second span from 8:53 – 8:33 when the Gators peppered the Eagles goalie with a flurry of shots.

Not too shabby for his first playoff appearance.

“I played here my first two years, left my junior year and this year I came back,” Thien said. “My first two years we never made it. But it’s all about that first save. When you feel the puck once, you know what to do. And the student section was a big help. They’re banging on the glass and that gives me hope and drive to stay focused and play my game.”

The Eagles will face No. 2-seeded Colorado Academy on Saturday at a time to be determined.

Pine Creek beat Colorado Academy 6-4 on Jan. 13, but the Mustangs (16-3-1) handed the Eagles a 4-2 defeat, their first loss of the year, on Jan. 23.

Since that loss to the Mustangs, the Eagles are 6-1 including Tuesday’s win and have outscored their opponents 41-12.

The semifinals will take place at Ed Robson Arena and Saturday’s winners will head to Denver on Monday for the finals at University of Denver’s Magness Arena.

4A ice hockey quarterfinals results

No. 8 Colorado Springs D11 3, No. 1 Battle Mountain 1

No. 2 Colorado Academy 6, No. 10 Liberty 0