Littleton – Nobody’s perfect. The Heritage boys soccer team made sure of that.
Heritage senior Kyle Lambert stunned top-ranked and previously undefeated Arapahoe, the last Class 5A team to lose a game this season, with a ricochet header off Tyler Sabey’s direct kick in the 28th minute in the Eagles’ 2-0 Continental League victory Wednesday night at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
“We came into the game thinking they were any old team. We didn’t think of them as the ninth-ranked team in the nation, or whatever they are,” said Lambert, whose second goal of the season silenced an Arapahoe team that is not used to trailing.
Arapahoe (14-1 overall, 11-1 league), ranked in the top 10 by at least one national publication, had allowed just four goals all season before running into Heritage (9-3-2, 8-1-2). The Warriors can still claim the league title, and Heritage, with one regular-season game remaining, will take second place.
The Warriors set the tone early, putting pressure on the Heritage defense but was unable to score. Arapahoe’s Keegan Bast delivered two good shots off direct kicks in the opening minutes of the first half, but the first was just over the top of the crossbar and the second went high and wide.
In the 24th minute, Joe Madigan played keep-away with the Heritage defense before creating enough space to let loose with a try that went high.
“I felt like our guys were ready. … It was a good lesson for us,” Arapahoe coach Mark Hampshire said. “You can dominate a game and not win. That’s the nature of our sport.”
Arapahoe did control much of the action, and it generated more corner kicks (6-0) and shots on goal (5-3). It appeared inevitable that the Warriors would find a way to equalize the score in the second half, but it was Sabey who came up with a way to decide the game.
With Arapahoe’s offense playing up, Heritage’s Zach Nau controlled a ball near midfield with few defenders back and Sabey sitting alone on the left wing. The senior midfielder lined up his shot from about 15 yards and rifled a beautiful, curving goal to the top right corner of the net in the 76th minute.
“I figured I’d either waste time or shoot,” Sabey said. “I was aiming for the back corner, but I didn’t think it would be that good. But I’m happy.”
Heritage 1 1 – 2
Arapahoe 0 0 – 0
Goals – Lambert (Sabey), 28th minute; Sabey (Nau), 76th. Shots on goal – Heritage 1-2 – 3; Arapahoe 2-3 – 5. Saves – Heritage (Zitek) 2-3 – 5; Arapahoe (Sidder) 0-1 – 1. Corner kicks – Heritage 0-0 – 0; Arapahoe 3-3 – 6. Offsides – Heritage 0-0 – 0; Arapahoe 0-0 – 0. Fouls – Heritage 10-7 – 17; Arapahoe 10-6 – 16. Yellow cards – Talbert, A, 27th minute; Beckie, A, 60th.
