LAFAYETTE — The Peak to Peak boys soccer team was still recovering from the thrashing it took against Class 3A’s top-ranked team, so the Pumas did the next best thing.
They beat No. 2.
With a backdrop of a brilliant sunset that faded into a cloudless fall evening, the No. 4 Pumas upended second-ranked Kent Denver 2-1 on Tuesday, using a well-orchestrated tic-tac-toe sequence to secure the Class 3A Metro League victory.
With 18 minutes to play, Victor Lemus delivered an on-the-money pass to Dylan Thompson, who fed a streaking Josh Harges — who drilled the ball into the net from 15 yards out. Peak to Peak (5-2, 1-1) is a team that prides itself on its pinpoint passing, and that exhibition certainly pleased the man who preaches it.
“That was the epitome,” coach Peter Chandler said. “That kind of finish is what we look for.”
The veteran-laden Pumas, who possess 13 seniors, sometimes “die in our beauty, passing the ball all around but not getting it into the net,” Chandler said, indicating it happened in the recent 7-1 loss to No. 1 Colorado Springs Christian.
After producing the go-ahead goal in the fashion that is the Pumas’ hallmark, they held on when goalkeeper Mike Fangman dove to his right to stymie a Sam Buck shot with 2:11 to play. Earlier in the second half, defender Jon Quinn narrowly saved a Kent Denver scoring chance after Fangman went down.
A far-post goal by Lemus gave the Pumas a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, but it was matched just over six minutes later on a picturesque goal by Kent Denver’s Austin Hughes, who created space with a juke and a spin move.
Hughes said Kent Denver’s two-hour bus ride from Cherry Hills Village, in which the Sun Devils (5-2-1, 1-1) took a wrong turn, might have been a factor.
“We came off the bus and only had 10 minutes to warm up,” Hughes said. “We’re usually a fast-starting team, and they got a goal early.”
The Sun Devils nearly got an equalizing goal for themselves late, but Fangman turned it away.
“What a save in the waning moments,” Chandler said. “I’m so happy to see him do that, because that’s going to be a confidence builder.”
Kent Denver … 1 – 0 — 1
Peak to Peak … 1 – 1 — 2
Scoring — PTP, Lemus (Harges), 10th minute; KD, Hughes, 16th; PTP, Harges (Thompson).
Shots on goal — KD 2-2 4; PTP 3-3 – 6. Saves — KD (Allen) 2-2 – 4; PTP (Fangman) 1-1 2. Corner kicks — KD 1-2 3; PTP 2-4 – 6. Yellow cards — Wittmer, KD, 48th.
