Fountain Valley comes up short in 3A soccer title game
COMMERCE CITY • Sixty-two minutes in and Fountain Valley was holding its own. The Danes were under a bit of pressure from the defending Class 3A state champions, but it was scoreless and there was hope.
Then Kent Denver’s Max Gottesfeld was pulled down in the box by a pair of Danes defenders and the No. 1 Sun Devils were on their way to a 2-0 victory Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
A few minutes later, after Gottesfeld converted on the penalty kick, Rory Buck headed home a perfect cross from Tyler Nowak to put the Sun Devils (19-0-1) up two with 12:37 left to play.
No. 6 Fountain Valley (15-3-2) never found an answer to solve the Kent Denver defense.
During the first half of the first half, the Danes possessed the ball more than the Sun Devils. They managed four shots in the first half to the Sun Devils’ three.
But as the half waned, Kent Denver could tell the Danes were waning too. The Sun Devils started to possess more. They were able to push farther up the pitch and get some chances, including a header by Max Sanson that went over the Danes’ crossbar.
Yet when the whistle blew, the Danes could see that they were tied with the defending champs. The story didn’t remain the same in the second half.
Pretty soon, Gottesfeld was tripped in the box, leading to his goal, and that changed the Danes’ plan.
“After they got the penalty and scored, we really pushed to try and equalize, especially in a championship game,” coach Byron Dacy said. “All credit to Kent Denver and (coach) Arty Smith over there, he’s doing a fantastic job with that team. That’s one heck of a good team.”
Ross Rainaldi, the Sun Devils’ goalie, didn’t have much work in the second half. He and a number of teammates will return for a shot at three in a row next year, including the goal-scorer Buck.
“It feels great,” Buck said. “Especially for the seniors, who’ve been working so hard, just to help them get it on their last year.”
Six seniors will graduate from the Danes’ roster.
“It’s been amazing,” said Danes senior and leading goal scorer Sam Bermingham. “We never thought we’d make it this far – to the Rapids stadium, playing on a professional pitch. A small 3A school, one of the smallest out there, and making it this far, we’re a hell of a team and I love these guys.”
