ARVADA — The wind at the North Area Athletic Complex has become an infamous — and dreaded — monster.
Tuesday night that monster rendered and all but helpless, as the soccer rivals endured gusts of razor-wire wind for a Class 4A Jefferson County League draw.
“It’s frustrating to have the quality of players on the field, and then have the conditions overpower the game,” Farmers coach Dan Watkins said as his players fled the field.
The wind sometimes blew the length of the pitch and sometimes across it, disrupting passes and shots, especially anything that got up in the air.
The defending champion and top-ranked Farmers (4-0-1, 1-0-1 in league) had the best chance to break the stalemate when All-Colorado junior striker Anne Kunz was knocked down in the penalty area by Amanda Arner with 7:57 remaining in regulation. Kunz, who is nursing a bad ankle and has played sparingly this season, kicked into the wind and watched the ball float harmlessly over Casey Polk’s goal.
The eighth-ranked Demons (4-2-1, 2-0-1) had the wind at their backs for much of the second half but just one great scoring chance. Missy Conklin, who headed just over the crossbar in the 59th minute on a cross from Elise Dreiling, had her low shot from the left saved by Farmers goalkeeper Hannah Van Wetter.
Wheat Ridge 0 0 0 0 — 0
Golden 0 0 0 0 — 0
Goals — None. Shots on goal — Wheat Ridge 1-3-0-0—4, Golden 2-4-0-0—6. Saves — Wheat Ridge (Van Wetter) 2-4-0-0—6, Golden (Polk) 1-3-0-0—4. Offside — Wheat Ridge 1-0-0-0—1, Golden 0-2-0-0—2. Corner kicks — Wheat Ridge 2-1-0-0—3, Golden 2-2-0-0—4. Fouls — Wheat Ridge 3-2-2-0—7, Golden 9-5-1-1—16. Yellow cards — Osbaugh, G, 44th minute.
