Castle Rock – The Ponderosa Mustangs went into the first round of the Class 5A state soccer playoffs Tuesday night looking for the first postseason victory in coach Jim Engels’ six-year tenure against a team that had not lost all season.
When the next milestone moment comes along, the Mustangs might want to savor it a bit longer.
Andrew Love, a sophomore forward, scored in the 12th minute of play, and Thomas Petzinger and co-captain Matt Schroeder added two more goals in the ensuing 12 minutes as Ponderosa rolled over previously unbeaten Adams City 4-1 at Douglas County Stadium.
“We came out and scored three quick goals and buried ’em,” Schroeder said.
After turning away an initial charge by Adams City, Love controlled a pass near midfield and weaved his way through defenders toward the left goal post. His shot to the far post caught Eagles starting goalkeeper Humberto Hernandez flatfooted.
“(Hernandez) came wide and I just played it through,” Love said. “After my goal we got another easy one and then another. We put them away pretty quick.”
Petzinger, a senior, added to the lead in the 21st minute after beating one defender and then tapping his shot past a charging Hernandez, who was at least 10 yards out of the goal. Three minutes later, Schroeder caught Hernandez too far out to give the Mustangs (12-2-2) a 3-0 advantage before halftime.
“That forward I have is pretty quick and I think he surprised them with his speed,” Engels said of Love.
“The first 5, 6 minutes they had the ball down there making us a little nervous, but we thought once we got into their defense we’d be fine. We thought we could break down their defense by moving the ball around out there.”
Predictably, tempers started to flare in the second half with the game all but decided, but officials handed out cards to keep the teams in check. Still, the postgame handshake was scratched in order to prevent any problems.
Adams City generated a handful of scoring opportunities, including a close-range header by Jose Fonseca in the first half and a one-on-one ripper by Jose Montavo midway through the second half that Ponderosa goalkeeper Zach Carlson turned away with a beautiful diving save.
Adams City 0 1 – 1
Ponderosa 3 1 – 4
Goals – P: Andrew Love (unassisted), 12th minute; Thomas Petzinger (unassisted), 21st; Matt Schroeder (unassisted), 24th; Nick Kain (penalty kick), 54th; AC: Jose Montavo (unassisted), 75th.
Shots on goal – Adams City 3-3 – 6; Ponderosa 6-3 – 9.
Saves – Adams City (Hernandez 24 minutes, Madrid 56) 1-2 – 3; Ponderosa (Quintero 40 minutes, Carlson 40) 3-2 – 5.
Corner kicks – Adams City 2-0 – 2; Ponderosa 3-2 – 5.
Offsides – Adams City 1-0 – 1; Ponderosa 1-1 – 2.
Fouls – Adams City 3-7 – 10; Ponderosa 2-4 – 6.
Yellow cards – Montavo, AC, 29th minute; Artega, AC, 59th; Petzinger, P, 60th; Araiza, AC, 60th; Artega, AC, 70th.
Red cards – Artega, AC, 70th; Mendoza, AC, 70th.
