BOULDER — Chelo Curi has a pretty cush gig.
The Cherry Creek boys soccer coach, in his 13th season in charge of the Bruins and fresh off a state championship, can sometimes sit back and watch beauty unfold before his eyes.
Cherry Creek, the preseason No. 1 in The Denver Post Class 5A soccer poll, regrouped after halftime Saturday and defeated No. 3 Fairview 3-1.
“We started out OK, and it just seems like we let off the gas pedal a little bit,” Curi said. “Especially after we scored the goal, we got a little down and started to question what we were trying to do.”
When Cherry Creek clicked, it was quick and efficient. The Bruins (3-0) tied it in the 60th minute when sophomore Jacob Hanlin set up Jesus Perez.
Less than a minute later, with the Knights on their heels, Hanlin gave the Bruins the lead for good. Hanlin added another with two minutes left.
“We had a good talk (at the half) and came out looking for it,” Hanlin said. “Worked as a team, started pinging it and made it happen.”
Fairview (2-1) got a goal from senior striker Shane O’Neill.
Cherry Creek 0 3 — 3
Fairview 1 0 — 1
Goals — F: S. O’Neill (Magno), 31st minute; CC: Perez (Hanlin), 60th; Hanlin (Toscano), 61st; Hanlin (unassisted), 78th.
Shots on goal — Cherry Creek 2-4 — 6; Fairview 2-3 — 5. Saves — Cherry Creek (Barsch) 1-3 — 4; Fairview (Schuerman) 2-1 — 3. Offside — Cherry Creek 0-0 — 0; Fairview 0-1 — 1. Corner kicks — Cherry Creek 3-3 — 6; Fairview 1-1 — 2. Fouls — Cherry Creek 7-4 — 11; Fairview 4-9 — 13. Yellow cards — Gilchrist-Dudley, CC, 31st; Gerland, F, 45th; Frykholm, F, 53rd; Wojociechowski, F, 64th.
