Among other things, familiarity breeds good soccer.
Loaded with juniors and seniors, East moved with speed and purpose Wednesday in a 3-0 victory over South at All-City Stadium.
The Angels, ranked eighth in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, got two goals from senior Matt Henderson and a third from senior Chris Linsmayer to clinch the top spot in the Denver Prep League.
“We usually try to keep it simple – one to two touches and try to get it wide,” Henderson said.
The Angels (13-1 overall, 7-0 DPL) won their ninth straight game and notched their fifth consecutive shutout, and seventh of the season.
The Angels were too fast for the 4A Rebels, transitioning through the midfield and stretching the defense to their advantage.
South (8-5-1, 6-1) appeared to have the talent to play with the Angels but performed true to its makeup – a team of new faces with players from Mexico, Costa Rica, Russia and three African nations.
“That’s what makes it fun for me is that you get these guys from all over the world and you try to mold them,” South coach Andy Fuentes said. “They got the talent, they just haven’t play together. (East) has played together.”
The Angels struck first in the 11th minute, after the Rebels’ first sustained attack of the game.
East counterattacked down the right side with Linsmayer, who avoided defender Mike Caine and crossed a low ball that Henderson one-timed into the left corner of Andy Goellner’s goal.
South’s midfield, behind towering freshman Cisse Zoumana, possessed well but quickly ran out of attacking options. The Angels’ defense, anchored by junior Nick Lewis, shut things down and allowed just one deflected shot on goal.
For Lewis, it was just another day of defense. His greatest concern was with the Angels’ attack.
“We got to work on finishing our easy chances,” he said. “It seems like we finish our hard chances.”
The Angels made it look easy early in the second half.
Henderson made it 2-0 in the 45th minute when he ran down a perfect through ball from Satha Boyd and coolly slotted it home.
Linsmayer got his goal eight minutes later when he collected Goellner’s miss-hit free kick 30 yards from goal. Linsmayer chested the ball down, charged on goal, shrugged off a defender and tapped it past Goellner inside the 6-yard box.
East 1 2 – 3
South 0 0 – 0
Goals – Henderson (Linsmayer), 11th minute; Henderson (Boyd), 45th; Linsmayer (unassisted), 53rd.
Shots on goal – East 2-3 – 5; South 0-1 – 1. Saves – East (Simon 40 minutes, Williams 40) 0-1 – 1; South (Goellner) 1-1 – 2. Offsides – East 0-0 – 0; South 0-1 – 1. Corner kicks – East 3-6 – 9; South 2-1 – 3. Fouls – East 3-7 – 10; South 7-5 – 12.
