Arvada – With the ball sitting inches from the goal line, Denver Christian’s Chrissy West had a thought intrude.
“Just get it in the net already,” West said.
West did just that, pushing the ball across the line in the 75th minute to put the Class 3A defending state champions back in the title game with a 1-0 victory Friday over Kent Denver in a semifinal match at the North Area Athletic Complex.
“We were sick of piddling around,” West said. “We just have to crash the net and follow every ball.”
The 12th-seeded Crusaders (13-1-4) extended their unbeaten streak to eight games and avenged their only loss of the season against their Metropolitan League rival.
West’s goal put an end to a physical, back-and-forth match that didn’t see its first shot on goal until the 58th minute and produced just a few scoring opportunities.
The game-winner was set up by a yellow card to Sidra Bonner that gave the Crusaders a free kick about 30 yards out. Shawna Hendrix bent the ball toward the left post and it struck the crossbar and ended up right on the doorstep, giving Kent Denver goalie Bri Dix no chance.
“It’s a couple plays made by each player,” Denver Christian coach Brad Homan said. “What is neat about these teams playing here is it’s not just one player.”
It was a cruel finish for the top-seeded Sun Devils (12-2-4), who had two great goal-scoring opportunities thwarted minutes before West scored.
Midfielder Jen Miller had her blast from the right side knocked down by Crusaders goalie Kiley Gill in the 72nd minute, seconds after Caroline Caccia had her shot from the top of the penalty area blocked by a defender.
Kent Denver’s Erin McGonagle got free in the penalty area in the 70th minute but had the ball swept from her feet on a hard challenge by defender Kelsie DeNooy.
“She had a wide-open net,” DeNooy said. “I just felt I had no other choice but to go for it.”
Gill made just two saves as the Crusaders recorded their ninth shutout of the season.
Denver Christian defeated Kent Denver 4-0 in the 2003 state championship game.
Denver Christian 0 1 – 1
Kent Denver 0 0 – 0
Goal – West (unassisted), 75th minute.
Shots on goal – Denver Christian 0-2 – 2; Kent Denver 0-2 – 2. Saves – Denver Christian (Gill) 0-2 – 2; Kent Denver (Dix) 0-1 – 1. Offsides – Denver Christian 1-2 – 3; Kent Denver 0-1 – 1. Corner kicks – Denver Christian 4-1 – 5; Kent Denver 2-3 – 5. Fouls – Denver Christian 8-5 – 13; Kent Denver 5-4 – 9. Yellow cards – Goetz, KD, 25th minute; Bonner, KD, 75th.
