ENGLEWOOD — The Denver Christian Crusaders have been scrambling all season.
Out went a wealth of senior talent to graduation, in came the sophomores and then came the injuries throughout the ranks this season.
In Saturday’s Class 3A state championship, at the same Pirate Stadium where the Crusaders lost in the final to Faith Christian a year ago, they would get their best save from a midfielder and a standout goalkeeping effort from their backup.
It’s been one of those seasons.
Jack Reinsma scored in the 60th minute and made perhaps the save of the night in the 72nd to preserve a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Fountain Valley and to guide the No. 6 Crusaders (15-2-2) to their first state title since 1997.
“We had a lot of young guys,” Crusaders coach Ed Buteyn said. “We lost 10 or 11 guys from last year. I started six sophomores tonight. They just kept getting better all season.”
Brent Ham opened the scoring with a bullish 40-yard run and finish in the 15th minute before the Danes (17-1-1) equalized in the 25th on a goal from John McCaffery.
Both teams played with abandon, crashing the goal, firing in dangerous crosses and flying in for tackles before Denver Christian sneaked in the winner.
Defender Danny Zoetewey got the ball nearly 45 yards outside the goal and sent in a looping cross to the far post, where Reinsma was waiting like a thief on the doorstep.
“I was surprised there was no one there from their team,” Reinsma said.
After his header goal, the 5-foot-10 senior would head Ace VanEsselstine’s blast off the goal line with eight minutes remaining.
“That’s why you stand on the line,” Reinsma said.
Crusaders goalie Colin Lanser, in just his third start of the season, made five saves – a year after his brother, Jeff, led the ninth-seeded Crusaders to the final.
“I was texting him all day,” Colin said. “It’s just great being here, knowing he was here last year.”
The Danes were looking for their first state title in any sport. Led by forward Rett Rayhill, the Danes poured it on in the final 10 minutes, only to see shots by Ricardo Castanon and Brandon Giorgetta turned aside by Lanser, the post and Stephen Gunnink.
“We wanted to get it out wide because they were really packing the middle,” McCaffery said.
3A MVP
Jack Reinsma scored the game-winner in the 60th minute with a cool header after he sneaked in all alone on the Fountain Valley far post. With eight minutes remaining,
Reinsma made the save of the night, helping his goalie out as the Danes attacked in waves.
Denver Christian 1 1 – 2
Fountain Valley 1 0 – 1
Goals – DC: Ham (unassisted), 15th minute; FV: McCaffery (Rayhill), 25th; DC: Reinsma (Zoetewey), 60th.
Shots on goal – Denver Christian 1-2 – 3; Fountain Valley 3-3 – 6. Saves – Denver Christian (Lanser) 2-3 – 5; Fountain Valley (Schaefer) 0-1 – 1. Offsides – Denver Christian 0-0 – 0; Fountain Valley 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks – Denver Christian 1-2 – 3; Fountain Valley 4-4 – 8. Fouls – Denver Christian 3-5 – 8; Fountain Valley 4-4 – 8. Yellow cards – DeNooy, DC, 25th minute; VanEsselstine, FV, 25th; Giorgetta, FV, 52nd.
