Arvada – Michael Lind has no problem being the last guy to get the ball for the Faith Christian soccer team.
Opposing defenders might beg to differ.
The Eagles’ senior attacking midfielder bagged a hat trick in an 11-minute span Tuesday night as Faith Christian erupted for four goals in the second half of a 5-0 victory over Colorado Springs Christian in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.
“It’s my team, though,” said Lind, who dished out one assist. “They were giving me great feeds in. It’s a team effort. I’m just the last guy to get the ball.”
The second-seeded Eagles (15-2), finalists a year ago after consecutive state championships, won their fifth straight game to advance to the semifinals and will face third-seeded Basalt on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada.
Junior forward Grant Cowles scored the opening goal in the 19th minute and added a second with seven minutes remaining. Goalkeeper Julio Hornedo made just one save as the Eagles recorded their 12th shutout and outshot the Lions 13-1.
“We just wanted to outwork them,” said All-Colorado midfielder Tyler Hambrick, who assisted on Lind’s second goal. “We know we can knock the ball, we have that potential and we have great players individually.”
To the Lions’ credit, they didn’t play defensively and tried to match the Eagles straight up. The Lions (14-4) moved the ball well and counterattacked with speed, but lacked the critical pass to give their forwards a chance to score.
“We weren’t intimidated,” Lions coach Dan Egeler said. “We wanted to come out and play our game. We held them to one goal in the first half …but they scored three goals in that 11-minute span, and that’s what broke our backs.”
Lind’s trifecta began in the 48th minute with a spectacular goal. Lind used his heel to scoop up Luke McCaslin’s long pass and then volleyed his shot out of midair from the top of the penalty box.
Lind made it 3-0 just 37 seconds later when he swept home a long cross by Hambrick.
Colorado Springs Christian 0 0 – 0
Faith Christian 1 4 – 5
Goals – Cowles (Bushaw), 19th minute; Lind (McCaslin), 48th; Lind (Hambrick), 49th; Lind (unassisted), 59th; Cowles (Lind), 73rd.
Shots on goal – C.S. Christian 0-1 – 1, Faith Christian 8-5 – 13. Saves – C.S. Christian (Pompea) 7-1 – 8, Faith Christian (Hornedo) 0-1 – 1. Offsides – C.S. Christian 0-0 – 0, Faith Christian 1-2 – 3. Corner kicks – C.S. Christian 0-3 – 3, Faith Christian 1-1 – 2. Fouls – C.S. Christian 3-4 – 7, Faith Christian 5-7 – 12.
