Arvada – Now you see it, now you don’t.
Faith Christian boys soccer coach Will Lind’s players are skilled and smart enough to change their offensive look five minutes before any match.
The Eagles pulled off that legerdemain on their home turf Saturday against long-standing rival Kent Denver.
Lind, in his fifth year, moved senior sweeper Grant Cowles to center-forward and his brother, Isaac Cowles, a junior midfielder, to sweeper. The slight-of- hand paid off in a 4-0 victory over the Sun Devils and placed the Eagles (5-0) atop the Class 3A Metropolitan League.
“We don’t want to look predictable,” said Lind, whose Eagles are always in the running for league and state titles, and this season beat nonleague big boys Columbine and D’Evelyn. “We’re always switching and trying a different look.”
Grant Cowles, who has eight goals, conjured up the Eagles’ first goal on a windless pitch 19 minutes, 36 seconds into the evenly matched, physical game. Taking a crossing pass from senior forward Sterling Copeland from the right side about chest high, Cowles beat sophomore goalkeeper Cameron Sheppard with a waist-high shot to his left.
“Give Sterling all the credit,” said Cowles, who put in a second goal on an assist from Eagles scoring leader Marcus Kirkwood, a senior midfielder, 29 seconds before the half for a 3-0 lead. “He made a great run. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Faith Christian played stellar defense in front of the net, giving senior keeper Matt Zevenbergen an easy day – he only had to make three saves. Three minutes before intermission, Copeland beat Sheppard in a one-on-one dual three for a 2-0 lead. Noah Drake, senior midfielder, got the assist.
In the final two minutes Kirkwood stretched his goal total to 15 with a penalty kick.
Faith Christian 3 1 – 4
Kent Denver 0 0 – 0
Goals – G. Cowles (Copeland) 19:36; Copeland (Drake) 36:51; G. Cowles (Kirkwood) 39:30; Kirkwood (Sterling) 78:50.
Shots on goal – F.C. 4-3 – 7, K.D. 1-2 – 3. Saves – F.C., Zevenbergen 2-1 – 3; K.D., Sheppard 1-2 – 3. Corner kicks – FC 2-2 – 4, KD 4-3 – 7. Yellow cards – I. Cowles.
