LAKEWOOD — It took about five hours to travel to Lakewood Memorial Stadium. It took the Indians six minutes, 46 seconds to realize Tuesday would mark the final day of their season.
Host scored three goals in that opening flurry and the fourth-seeded Farmers went on to a of the No. 29 Indians in the first round of the Class 4A girls soccer playoffs.
“We wanted to come out strong and hard in the first few minutes,” Wheat Ridge junior Annie Kunz said. “We wanted to get some quick goals and get the energy up.”
En route to a five-goal performance, Kunz scored the Farmers’ first two goals. One came on a sweet feed near midfield by Carly Nelson, the other off a header pass from Alyssa Lopez. Kunz, who took some time off to nurse a tender left ankle, has 10 goals in the past two games.
“It’s getting a lot better,” said Kunz, who will play soccer and run track at Texas A&M in 2011-12.
The defending state champion Farmers (13-1-2) weren’t expecting things to go so easily against a Montrose (8-8) squad that represented well in the mostly 5A Southwestern League.
“We didn’t think we had an easy draw at all,” Wheat Ridge coach Dan Watkins said. “But they had a long trip, so we thought if we could get out to a quick start in the first 15 minutes of the game we’d be in good shape.”
Nelson added a goal and three assists for the Farmers, while Macee Broer, Brooke Livingston and even goalkeeper Hannah Van Wetter each tallied a goal. Van Wetter scored on a first-half penalty kick after Montrose was whistled for a hand ball in the box.
“This doesn’t really show who this team was this season at all,” Montrose sophomore Madison Gurule said. “We’re so much better of a team, but with our low seed we drew a tough team in the first round.”
Wheat Ridge outshot the Indians 22-2 and had a 12-0 advantage on corner kicks.
“I think we’re looking pretty good heading to the rest of the playoffs,” Kunz said.
Montrose … 0 – 0 — 0
Wheat Ridge … 7 – 2 — 9
Goals — W, Kunz (Nelson), 2nd minute; W, Kunz (Lopez), 5th; W, Broer, 7th; W, Nelson (Kunz), 21st; W, Van Wetter (PK), 22nd; W, Kunz, 30th; W, Kunz (Nelson) 32nd; W, Livingston (Lopez) 52nd; W, Kunz (Nelson), 66th.
Shots on goal — Montrose 1-1—2, Wheat Ridge 17-5—22. Saves — Montrose (Gilham) 10-3—13, Wheat Ridge (Van Wetter) 1-1—2. Corner kicks — Montrose 0-0—0, Wheat Ridge 10-2—12.
