Lafayette – If you lift the back of the jersey of any of the Peak to Peak players, you just may find a battery pack.
The Pumas played with energy Tuesday, advancing to the Class 3A state semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Denver Christian in front of the entire K-through-12 student body of the fourth-year school.
“This is a big step for Peak to Peak,” senior Yash Flaten said. “Kent Denver is the team we are looking forward to playing, and we’re looking forward to that game.”
The fourth-seeded Pumas (15-3-0) will meet top-seeded Kent Denver (15-1-1) on Saturday in a semifinal at noon at the North Area Athletic Complex. Kent Denver won the two previous meetings this season.
It was Flaten who got the Pumas on the board in the 17th minute. Taking a pass just outside the top of the box from Krishna Kennedy, Flaten lofted a shot he thought Crusaders goalie Jeff Lanser would have no trouble with.
“(Lanser) didn’t seem to be too worried as he was backpedaling, and I just thought, ‘Oh, too bad,”‘ Flaten said, “and then I said, ‘Wait a second, I’d better watch this,’ and saw it hit the back of the net.”
The fluid short-passing game that coach Peter Chandler stresses in practice was evident, as the Pumas controlled the play for most of the first half and had the best scoring chances. Kaleb Mahanes had a good look in the 35th minute that Lanser pushed away.
“We do a lot of work on one-touch and two-touch passing, and we have a lot of creativity up top from our goal scorers,” Chandler said. “We just need to go in and do what we do; it doesn’t matter what they do.”
Said Denver Christian coach Ed Buteyn: “They are tough on every ball all over the field, and they work very hard. For a lot of the game today, they outworked us.”
Peak to Peak put the game out of reach midway through the second half. A direct free kick was headed perfectly on net by Chris Beach, and Lanser made the save, but was unable to corral the ball. Steven Beach tapped in the rebound.
Minutes later, Denver Christian, with an extra attacker up front, had a chance to cut into the lead, but Jimmy McGeady’s blast was deflected over the bar by keeper Tyler Weber.
Denver Christian 0 0 – 0
Peak to Peak 1 1 – 2
Goals – Flaten (Kennedy), 17th minute; S. Beach (unassisted), 64th.
Shots on goal – Denver Christian 2-5 – 7; Peak to Peak 3-4 – 7. Saves – Denver Christian (Lanser) 2-3 – 5; Peak to Peak (Weber) 2-5 – 7. Corner kicks – Denver Christian 2-3 – 5; Peak to Peak 5-1 – 6. Offsides – Denver Christian 0-0 – 0; Peak to Peak 3-1 – 4. Fouls – Denver Christian 6-4 – 10; Peak to Peak 6-11 – 17. Yellow card – Gunnink, DC, 70th minute.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
