Circumstances were leaning toward another defeat Thursday for Denver Christian.
Already playing without all-state goalie Kiley Gill (knee), the Crusaders began their game against Peak to Peak with just 13 players because of a band trip to Florida. The Crusaders were down to 12 players by halftime when junior Chelsea LeFebre injured her jaw.
But instead of giving up, the sixth-ranked Crusaders rolled up their sleeves and ran over the No. 9 Pumas for a 5-0 Class 3A Metropolitan League victory.
“Everybody stepped up today, and that is important,” said backup goalie Jennifer Conner, who made her first start. “That’s what makes this team.”
Denver Christian (1-1, 1-0), state champions in 2004 and finalists in 2005, got two goals each from Lindsay Landhuis and Shawna Hendrix and a late strike from Dani Farkas.
The Crusaders took control by the 30th minute with three goals in a 12-minute span against the sophomore-dominated Pumas (1-2, 0-1).
Landhuis sparked the rout for the home team in the 17th minute when she fired a shot from the right side that looped over freshman goalie Kylie Frantz and beat her to the far post.
“I just tried to get it in the middle somewhere, hoping something or someone would get it in,” Landhuis said. “After that I felt I could do it again.”
So she did.
Landhuis made it 2-0 just seven minutes later with an identical shot off a pass from Shawn Roland, and Hendrix made it 3-0 in the 29th minute on a free kick from the top of the penalty area.
Hendrix got her second of the day in the 53rd minute on a free kick that slipped out of the hands of substitute goalie Brianna Mundhenke.
“Some days you can do everything to get the ball in the back of the net and it won’t go in,” Crusaders coach Brad Homan said. “Some days everything that is headed that way seems to find its way.”
Peak to Peak 0 0 – 0
Denver Christian 3 2 – 5
Goals – Landhuis (unassisted), 17th minute; Landhuis (Roland), 24th; Hendrix (free kick), 29th; Hendrix (free kick), 53rd; Farkas (unassisted), 74th.
Shots on goal – Peak to Peak 2-1 – 3; Denver Christian 6-4 – 10.
Saves – Peak to Peak (Frantz 40 minutes, B. Mundhenke 40) 3-2 – 5; Denver Christian (Conner) 2-1 – 3.
Offsides – Peak to Peak 1-0 – 1; Denver Christian 4-1 – 5.
Corner kicks – Peak to Peak 1-4 – 5; Denver Christian 4-3 – 7.
Fouls – Peak to Peak 6-2 – 8; Denver Christian 3-2 – 5.
Yellow card – A. Chandler, PP, 53rd minute.
