ENGLEWOOD — If recent history has taught us anything about Class 3A boys soccer, it’s to expect the unexpected.
See Hotchkiss in 2008. The Bulldogs’ unexpected run to the state championship gave hope to everyone not in the Metropolitan League.
On paper, Denver Christian was head and shoulders above second-year Lake County. But for 55 minutes Tuesday, the Panthers of Leadville gave the Crusaders all they could handle at Englewood Stadium.
Brent Ham’s penalty-kick goal in the 55th minute opened the floodgates for the third-seeded Crusaders, who rolled into Thursday’s quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory.
“We just kept knocking on the door and eventually it came,” said Ham, whose Crusaders bagged just one goal in the first round against Colorado Rocky Mountain School. “The second half is a good sign of what is coming in the future. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Next for Denver Christian (14-2-2) is a rematch with Basalt. The Longhorns beat the Crusaders 2-1 in September.
The old adage of “the longer you keep an underdog in a game they shouldn’t win, the better chance they have to steal one” was creeping in amongst the Denver Christian faithful.
The Crusaders had a golden opportunity in the first half after Panthers goalkeeper Esli Luna took down Michael VanDenBerg in the box. Colin Lanser’s penalty kick sailed over the post, and the game went to the half tied.
The Panthers (10-6-1), winners of the Frontier League, nearly took the lead early in the second half, when Carlos Rea nearly beat Austin Hart up high. Moments later, Manuel Chavarria had a clean look disappear when Marcus Landhuis and Hart recovered in the nick of time.
“If that goes in, it’s a whole different ballgame,” said co-coaches Makali Beck and Brian Costilow in stereo.
Ham would go on to score two more goals and assist on another. Chris Pranger and Luke Monsma also scored goals in the final moments.
Lake County 0 0 — 0
Denver Christian 0 5 — 5
Goals — B. Ham (penalty kick), 55th minute; B. Ham (J. Ham) 61st; B. Ham (unassisted), 63rd; Pranger (unassisted), 67th; Monsma (B. Ham), 72nd.
Shots on goal — Lake County 0-2 — 2, Denver Christian 3-7 — 10. Saves — Lake County (Luna, 79 minutes) 3-2 — 5, (Rea, 1 minute) 0-0 — 0; Denver Christian (Hart) 0-2 — 2. Corner kicks — Lake County 0-1 — 1, Denver Christian 7-4 — 11. Offsides — Lake County 0-1 — 1, Denver Christian 3-2 — 5. Fouls — Lake County 6-4 — 10, Denver Christian 0-5 — 5. Yellow card — Duran, Lake County, 61st.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
