Griz booters fall short to Colfax

GOLDEN SIERRA'S Cory Danielson-McKeague tries to outrun his mark in Wednesday's soccer action in Garden Valley. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

GARDEN VALLEY — Wednesday’s Colfax-Golden Sierra nonleague soccer match had scoring, defense, yellow cards and physicality — everything except the final 12 minutes.

That’s when a serious injury to Patrick Lewis — thought to be a hyperextended knee — and the real potential for reprisals, prompted Grizzly head coach Johnn deGraef to call the game with his team trailing 4-3.

“It was my request. Our guys were in ‘let’s-break-a-leg mode’ and I didn’t want to lose players (for future games) because of retaliation,” deGraef said. “The referees lost control from the get-go. That play on Patrick should have been an automatic red card but after five yellows they were scared to make the call. They almost didn’t give us the foul.”

Golden Sierra broke a 2-2 second-half tie on a set piece from the back that the visiting Falcons headed back to their keeper. But Grizzly Kyle Shiba flew in to disrupt the play and Cory Danielson-McKeague jumped on the loose ball for the easy empty-netter.

The Grizzlies needed 20 minutes of solid defense to close out but Jared Putnum’s cut-back shot for a goal and Ben Rooker’s follow shot rallied Colfax to the win, dropping the Griz to 1-3.

It didn’t take but a minute for Golden Sierra to get on the scoreboard. A Falcon violation gave the Grizzlies a direct from atop the 18 where Matt Smith blistered a ball over Colfax’ four-man wall and upper center where the Falcon keeper couldn’t reach.

Golden Sierra’s starting backfield of Glen Carlisle, Spencer Cortwright, Taggart Magnuson and Shane Doyan had their hands full tracking the Falcons’ possession game they ran through the middle. With skilled players in the front, Griz goalie Jonny O’Brien had to make several tough saves.

After Colfax went up 2-1, Shiba’s center pass in front of the goal from the left corner was muffed, Lewis got a piece of it and Golden Sierra went to the break tied 2-2.

The Grizzlies were applying late pressure when Lewis went down, prompting the arrival of the Garden Valley Fire Department and the end to the match.

Jerry Heinzer

Last Login | Mon May 20 10:43:22 2013
Jerry Heinzer is going on 12 years as an employee of the Mountain Democrat and is currently the Sports Editor. Contact Jerry at 530-344-5074 or jheinzer@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @ JHeinzerMtDemo on Twitter.

View all my stories Email Me JHeinzerMtDemo