BROOMFIELD — Broomfield boy soccer’s Northern League opener was wet and sloppy. It was stop and go. But it was a win.
In a Monday night game surrounded by thunderstorms and lightning, the defending league champion Eagles battled the elements and the Longmont Trojans to open the conference schedule with a 1-0 win.
The Eagles also were tired from playing three games last week, including a double-overtime loss to Arapahoe that ended in penalty kicks in the finale of the annual Warrior Invitational. All things considered, they were more than pleased with Monday’s results as they rushed to their cars after it was over.
“Our team was definitely a little fatigued,” Eagles head coach Jim Davidson said. “It was a good start to the league for us. We wanted to get started off with a win because playoff seeding will come down to league finish.”
It was raining when Monday’s game started and it was raining harder by the end. The officials stopped the game for a 30-minute lightning delay in the first half. The players returned to the field to play out the final 7 minutes before halftime, which the teams decided to skip and simply switch sides to continue play.
With 5 minutes remaining in the game, the lights on the east side of the stadium went out. It was a mess.
Before all that, though, sophomore Tyler Hulst gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 11th minute. In line with Monday’s calamity, Hulst’s shot from just inside the 18-yard line glanced spinning off his foot, took an awkward skip around Trojans goalkeeper Hector Martinez, and found the left side of the net.
“It was difficult on all the players on both teams,” Davidson said. “You could tell the game lost some rhythm with all the weather.”
After Hulst’s goal, assisted by senior Ben Gibble, there were few scoring chances at either end.
Taking the difficult conditions and the skill of their opponents into account, Trojans senior forward Kyle Pocalyko said his team was happy with Monday’s result.
“It shows us that we can compete with anybody in the state,” Pocalyko said. “We would have preferred a win. But losing 1-0 to a tough team on a tough night, we’ll take it.”
Scrambling to tie the game on a half-lit field in the waning minutes, the Trojans had a chance. Following a penalty, Pocalyko lined up a free kick outside the right corner of the box but his shot banged off the Eagles defensive wall.
The Eagles will host Thompson Valley on Thursday and the Trojans will take on Greeley West at home that same day.
Follow Brad on Twitter: twitter.com/BradCochi
Broomfield 1, Longmont 0
At Broomfield H.S.
Longmont (2-1, 0-1) 0 0 — 0
Broomfield (3-1-1, 1-0) 1 0 — 1
Goals (assists) — Broomfield: Tyler Hurst (Ben Gibble), 11th minute.
Goalkeepers (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) — Longmont: Hector Martinez (80-1-5); Broomfield: Michael Genge (80-0-2).
