Danes Open With Loss to Salida

The Danes opened their season with an away game against the Spartans of Salida. This would be the first time in recent history that the two teams have met. Salida has been a strong team for several years now, making into the state tournament several years in a row. With a 2,000-ft increase in altitude and playing a team with one win under its belt, the Danes found themselves in a difficult place to start the season. 

The Spartans opened the scoring in the first half when they capitalized on a corner kick that slipped through the Dane box and was finished on the far post. Keeper Griffin Shelor (Cedar Park, Texas) and backs Joe Colarelli (Colorado Springs), Tristan White (Fruita, Colo.), Antonio Jimenez (Queretaro, Mexico) and Lucas Huerga Marin (Madrid, Spain) would have their hands full for the remainder of the game as the Spartans had the run of the game. They scored twice before the end of the first half, again from a corner and then on a beautiful shot from 30 yards. It was 3-0 Salida at the half. 

The Danes were feeling the pressure as they stepped out onto the field to begin the second half. Midfielders Graham Sondermann (Colorado Springs), Matt Gilbert (Colorado Springs), Julio Miramontes (Denver) and Ben Strine (Kalamazoo, Mich.) worked hard to slow the Spartan pace, but lack of touch and composure on the ball forced many errant passes and miss timed runs. The Spartans notched one more goal before the full time whistle blew.

A tough start to the season for the boys from Fountain Valley but a deficit they can surely make up over the course of the season. The Danes will step onto their home pitch on Thursday as they open play for the Fountain Valley Invitational against crosstown foe Fountain Fort Carson.