Cherry Hills Village – Grant Kraus was the magic in the middle Thursday afternoon at Justin DeSorrento Memorial Field.
Kent Denver’s senior midfielder provided the possession and passing the Sun Devils needed to overcome stubborn Colorado Springs Christian 1-0 in a Class 3A nonleague matchup.
“He’s just playing super strong this year,” Kent Denver coach Arty Smith said of Kraus. “He’s tough in the air and a physical presence as well as being a playmaker for us. We’re thrilled, and we send everything through him.”
Six minutes after halftime, Kraus played a long ball ahead to striker Tyler Morton, who cut through the center of the Lions’ defense and slotted a ball past goalie Barry Pompea. No. 2 Sun Devils improved to 3-0.
Kent Denver controlled much of the game, but the seventh-ranked Lions (1-1) ensured a nervy finish with their ever- present counterattack.
Sun Devils goalie Scott Brown made four saves for the shutout, his best coming less than a minute after Morton’s goal.
Colorado Springs Christian midfielder Nathan Fleming released Jacob Marchesani with a low pass that he fired on goal.
“We’re still a pretty young team, and it’s early in the season, but I like what I see, because we do have that desire to push forward,” Fleming said.
The Sun Devils eased into control early in the first half and forced the game’s first save in the sixth minute on a header from Kraus.
Sophomore Peter Walker was next with a quickly taken free kick in the 20th minute that goalie Barry Pompea had to stab away from the upper corner.
Kraus was back in the 28th after a smart bit of linking play on the counterattack. Morton found room down the right side and centered a ball to Andrew Pritzlaff, who laid it off for Kraus to one-time to Pompea’s right. Pompea finished with nine saves.
Colorado Springs Christian 0 0 – 0
Kent Denver 0 1 – 1
Goal – Morton (Kraus), 46th minute.
Shots on goal – Colorado Springs Christian 2-2 – 4; Kent Denver 5-5 – 10. Saves – Colorado Springs Christian (Pompea) 5-4 – 9; Kent Denver (Brown) 2-2 – 4. Offsides – Colorado Springs Christian 0-0 – 0; Kent Denver 2-1 – 3. Corner kicks – Colorado Springs Christian 4-1 – 5; Kent Denver 3-1 – 4. Fouls – Colorado Springs Christian 6-4 – 10; Kent Denver 6-5 – 11. Yellow card – Goldberg, CSC, 60th minute.
