WESTMINSTER - Nikoli Savage was well aware of the rivalry between Horizon and Mountain Range and on Tuesday he made his cameo.

Savage scored two goals, including the game-winner, to help the Hawks top the Mustangs 3-2 at North Stadium.

“(This rivalry) has been around for quite a while, we want to beat them,” the sophomore said. “I’m excited; it’s a pretty big win for us.”

The win not only helped the Hawks improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Front Range League, it also gives the Horizon players bragging rights over an all-too familiar foe.

“Ninety percent of these guys know each other, play club ball together and hang out together,” Horizon coach Aaron Smith said. “It’s a healthy rivalry. There is no disrespect. It’s like playing your brother; you want to beat the hell out of him.”

Last season the two squads battled to a scoreless tie. However, Savage made sure that wasn’t going to be the case this time around. He set the tone early by rebounding an errant shot and finding the back of the net four minutes into the contest.

Ten minutes later, Dillion Douglas found freshman Ares Marionsson for a goal to give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage going into the half.

After a stern talking to by coach James Hock the Mustangs quickly gained the momentum in the second half.

Carlos Diego Luna found Steven Salter for a goal in the opening minutes of the half and then 10 minutes later Salter found Chad Nichols to tie the game.

“I laid into them a little bit,” Hocke said. “They weren’t playing with heart, they weren’t playing as a team (and) they weren’t talking. They needed to show a little more heart and show a little more passion - which they did.”

Despite the momentum going Mountain Range’s way, Jared Rio was able to find Savage to score what proved to be the winning goal. The goals were Savage’s first two of the season.

“Our guys played well, they came through with some big goals at right moments,” Smith said. “Generally in these rivalries the fundamentals go out the window. In a game like this it really wasn’t going to come down to soccer, it is going to come down to intensity and energy.”

Salter had a chance to tie the game in the final 10 minutes, but his attempt was stopped by Horizon’s keeper Christian Rico. Rico had seven saves in the win.

Mountain Range (3-4-1, 2-1 FRL) is at Monarch on Friday, while the Hawks host Legacy on Thursday.