COLORADO SPRINGS — Justin Lukso knows that, technically speaking, he doesn’t get any credit for what he did Tuesday night.
But as for Lukso and the rest of the Liberty Lancers, they’re back in the Class 4A state semifinals thanks to his long throw-in with 10 minutes remaining.
Lukso, a tall and long-armed senior, snapped a throw-in into the Greeley Central penalty area from about 35 yards out. The ball bounced, and Wildcats defender Matt Mapes jumped up to clear the ball but had it go over his head inside the 6-yard box.
Perhaps it was Mapes’ screen or the ball’s speed off the synthetic turf, but Wildcats all-state goalie Jeff Allen never made a play and had it bank off his leg and in to give Liberty a 1-0 victory.
“I was very surprised,” said a grinning Lukso. “It took my team a while to realize it went in off me and no one else touched it.”
Wink, wink.
The goal was a strange end to a superb quarterfinal encounter off differing styles at District 20 Stadium.
The fourth-seeded Lancers (14-4) played a fast possession game, pressured the Wildcats high and determinedly worked the ball to the flanks to try to pry open Greeley Central’s solid interior defense through the efforts of Kory Spencer and Chris Beene.
“Every game, our strength is to play the flanks,” said Liberty junior Javier Salome, who provided creative inspiration for the Lancers all night with snaking runs, knifing passes and booming free kicks.
The fifth-seeded Wildcats (14-4) defended in numbers, were at times content to surrender possession in the midfield, but remained ever dangerous with their direct attack aimed at speedy forwards Ben Buhler and Saul Sanchez.
The defending champion Lancers, winners of seven straight, will face nemesis and top-seeded Broomfield (18-0) on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. at Englewood’s Pirate Stadium.
With 11 seniors set to graduate, this was the final game in charge for Wildcats coach Ian Wale, who saw his team bounced in double overtime in the 2006 quarterfinals. When asked to explain how his team lost Tuesday, Wale had no trace of frustration.
“You know, I don’t know, and really, it’s not worth asking,” he said. “It was a mistake and mistakes happen. But what a game.”
Allen made his best save on Tyler Baldes’ point-blank effort in the 58th minute, which also was set up by a long throw by Lukso.
Greeley Central 0 0 – 0
Liberty 0 1 – 1
Goal – (Own goal), 70th minute.
Shots on goal – Greeley Central 1-6 – 7; Liberty 2-4 – 6. Saves – Greeley Central (Allen) 2-4 – 6; Liberty (Barthe) 1-6 – 7. Offsides – Greeley Central 0-0 – 0; Liberty 0-1 – 1. Corner kicks – Greeley Central 2-5 – 7; Liberty 3-3 – 6. Yellow cards – None.
