Colorado Springs – Any psychic would be pleased with the accuracy of Mike Goyden’s prediction.
The Liberty boys soccer coach looked at all the numbers available on his team and those of Pine Creek, the Lancers’ Class 4A semifinal-round opponent, and as those scores swirled in his head he was awakened by a dream.
Goyden’s vision said Liberty, the defending state champion and top seed in the playoffs, would beat Pine Creek by a score of 4-0.
Close.
The Lancers won 5-0 on Saturday at Garry Berry Stadium and advanced to the ninth state final appearance in school history in search of a fifth title. Standing in the way Tuesday night will be Broomfield.
“He never predicts scores. It was the first time he has told us before the game what he thought the score would be,” said Kyle Schafer, who pitched in a goal and an assist.
Liberty (18-1) wasted little time trying to match Goyden’s crystal ball by jumping on Pine Creek (15-4) for a three-goal lead at halftime.
Brian Bjork opened the scoring with an assist from Max Light, and Kyle Joern kicked in a second goal five minutes later. Joern then set up the next three goals (one assist each to David Trainer, Schafer and Thomas Hoang) to put the Eagles away.
“We all were really ready for this game. We wanted to jump on them early,” Joern said.
The Lancers are trying to become the first team to repeat as 4A state champion since Dakota Ridge won titles in 1997 and 1998.
“I try to play these guys up as underdogs because nobody has won back-to-back championships in seven years,” Goyden said.
Pine Creek was not pleased with the ending, but the season on the whole was the best the program has seen.
“Obviously this wasn’t our best showing. You go down three goals against Liberty and it’s a death sentence,” Pine Creek coach Ben Corley said. “A 5-0 loss is never what you want to see at this level, but we had a great season.”
Pine Creek 0 0 – 0
Liberty 3 2 – 5
Goals – Bjork (Light), 12th minute; Joern (Schafer), 17th; Trainer (Joern), 21st; Schafer (Joern), 37th; Hoang (Joern), 39th.
Shots on goal – Pine Creek 2-1 – 3; Liberty 9-6 – 15. Saves – Pine Creek (Schneider) 6-4 – 10; Liberty (Lang) 2-1 . 3. Corner kicks – Pine Creek 1-1 . 2; Liberty 1-1 – 2. Fouls – Pine Creek 3-4 – 7; Liberty 3-2 – 5. Yellow card – Wester, PC, 60th.
