GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Per tradition, the Cherry Creek boys soccer team, with a few exceptions, stands out with the players’ bleached blond hair.
Last week, after falling from the top of the state rankings for the first time this season, the Bruins complemented the look with a chip on their shoulders — and made two Centennial League opponents pay for it.
The latest was Overland. Creek scored three early goals from its top two point producers for a 3-0 victory Saturday at Village Green Park. The win came on the heels of a 4-0 blanking of Grandview on Thursday.
“It was disappointing,” senior midfielder Joey Logsdon said of being demoted to No. 2 behind Boulder following Monday’s scoreless tie with sixth-ranked Arapahoe. “We had a rough game against Arapahoe. We should’ve played better.”
Logsdon and fellow senior midfielder Joshua Alswang are doing all they can to return the Bruins to their No. 1 ranking, along with a second straight Centennial League title.
Logsdon scored the first and third goals (five for the year), and Alswang added his team-high ninth goal — all before outmanned Overland could break a sweat on a breezy afternoon. Alswang had three goals and Logsdon two assists against Grandview.
“It was important to get the team going off at the start,” said Logsdon, who was assisted by Nick Groesser and Karsten Hanlin on his two goals. “The quick first goal helped our confidence.”
Cherry Creek (9-1-3, 3-0-1 Centennial) took advantage of playing the first half with the wind at its back. The Bruins outshot Overland (2-6-5) 5-0 in the first 40 minutes but had only two on goal in the second half. The Trailblazers did not put a shot on goal in the game in Creek’s third straight shutout.
Cherry Creek is one of three 5A teams that is unbeaten against in-state competition. Boulder and third-ranked Mountain Vista are unbeaten and untied with 11-0-0 records.
“Our team’s been playing very well since about the third or fourth game,” Cherry Creek coach Chelo Curi said. “We had a couple of injuries and suspensions early. We think we’re the top team, but all we can do about it is go out there and win.”
Overland 0 0 — 0
Cherry Creek 3 0 — 3
Goals — Logsdon (Groesser), CC; Alswang (Dudley), CC; Logsdon (Hanlin), CC. Shots on goal — O, 0-0 — 0; CC, 5-2 — 7. Saves — O, (Hernandez) 2; CC, (Barsch, 40 minutes) 0, CC, (Brown, 40 minutes) 0. Corner kicks — O, 0-0 – 0; CC, 2-3 – 5; Fouls — O, 2-2 — 4; CC, 3-0 — 3. Offside — O 0-0 – 0; CC 1-0—1. Yellow card — O, Abdulgasm.
