Throughout the 2011 season, and usually when the game is on the line, Matt Florence has coach Tom Graesser and his Kent Denver Sun Devils teammates insist that “he just go.”
The junior midfielder had it occur again Wednesday night. With the game tied at 5 after halftime, Florence keyed a three-goal barrage in the opening minutes of the third period as the Sun Devils outlasted Mullen 9-7 at Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium.
Kent Denver, ranked fourth in The Denver Post/9News poll, moved to 9-2 with the nonleague victory. The Sun Devils were coming off a loss Monday to Arapahoe before Florence ignited a run against a determined Mullen (9-6 and ranked seventh).
Less than a minute after halftime, Florence assisted Jackson Arnold for a 6-5 lead. Moments later, Florence took a pass from Collins Grantz to make it 7-5. Then he scored his second unassisted goal of the game for breathing room.
“(The Mustangs) were running a good 3-3 zone defense and it took us awhile to get things going,” Florence said. “Sometimes the coaches just tell me to go. It worked out, and I put some in the net.”
Florence scored three times and added an assist. Arnold was large with four goals and two helpers.
“He has got a big shot,” Florence said.
The Sun Devils kept Mullen scoreless in the third, although the Mustangs, who controlled much of the play, climbed within 8-7 with 4:44 to go. Arnold got the final goal after Mullen was called for slashing with 2:30 remaining.
“I bet you we had maybe 2 minutes of control in the second,” Graesser said. “We just talked at halftime . . . Our midfield is all juniors and (Florence) took charge.”
The Kent defense, notably goalie Sam Van Hook and longstick Alex Sadler, was a wall when needed.
Said Mullen coach Mitch Brin: “They adjusted to what we were doing and we adjusted. . . . We just ran out of time a little bit.”
Kent Denver 3 2 3 1 — 9
Mullen 3 2 0 2 — 7
Goals — KD: Arnold 4, Florence 3, Cowan, Rassenfoss; M: Standley 3, Ahrens, George, Kleinhenz, Schacht. Assists — KD: Arnold 2, Cowan, Florence, Grantz, Soderberg; M: Diercks, Smith, Standley,
