Peak to Peak’s bread and butter is stingy.
It’s also pretty effective.
The Pumas were up to their old ways Saturday against Denver Christian behind a tight defense and opportunistic offense, the same ingredients that steered the Pumas last season to a surprising Class 3A state title.
The Pumas had just one shot on goal before defender Trini Mares converted a penalty kick with nine minutes left to seal a 1-0 Metropolitan League win.
Peak to Peak, ranked fifth in The Denver Post/9News poll, had better possession than the third-ranked Crusaders, but was always one pass away from creating any real danger.
That all changed when forward Krishna Kennedy corralled a deflected clearance, strode into the Crusaders’ penalty area and was tripped up by defender Ben Borger. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Mares sneaked the ball by goalie Jeff Lanser with a slow shot inside the right post.
“I do a couple in practice, but I think I take them better in practice,” Mares said. “But it went in, that’s all that matters.”
The Pumas (8-2, 4-1 league) won their second straight, notched their fourth shutout of the season and snapped the seven-game unbeaten streak of the Crusaders (6-4-2, 3-2-1).
“Unfortunately, it came down to essentially an accidental call and the PK,” Crusaders coach Ed Buteyn said. “It wasn’t even a hard foul, but that’s what happens. We pressed hard, but to their credit, they didn’t give us anything.”
The Crusaders had plenty of chances to tag the Pumas, beginning in the second minute when Joe Lammers headed the ball past goalie Tyler Weber. Defender Theo Van Dehy denied the goal with a sliding clearance on the goal line. Weber was sharp for the rest of the game, coming off his line in the 30th minute to cut down a volley by Zach Pranger and pawing away a dangerous cross from Jack Reinsma in the 33rd minute with Lennart Rueger rushing in unguarded.
Lammers was back in the 47th minute when he skipped past defender Greg Borchers and sent a low cross into the box for Graham Ellsworth. Ellsworth, Weber and Caleb Bostic all arrived at the same time, collided and then watched as the ball squirted out and hit the post.
Peak to Peak 0 1 – 1
Denver Christian 0 0 – 0
Goal – Mares (penalty kick), 71st minute. Shots on goal – Peak to Peak 1-1 – 2, Denver Christian 3-1 – 4. Saves – Peak to Peak (Weber) 2-1 – 3, Denver Christian (Lanser) 1-0 – 1. Offsides – Peak to Peak 0-2 – 2, Denver Christian 0-2 – 2. Corner kicks – Peak to Peak 4-1 – 5, Denver Christian 2-3 – 5. Fouls – Peak to Peak 8-9 – 17, Denver Christian 3-8 – 11. Yellow cards – Van Dehy, PP, 34th minute; Hill, PP, 80th.
