Wheat Ridge senior Ryan Browne (3) tries to get around Pomona freshman Robert Wehner during the Farmers’ season opener Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. Browne scored in the second half to help the Farmers to a 3-2 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — The defending Class 4A Jeffco League boys soccer champion Wheat Ridge Farmers hung on to win its season opener Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field.
The Farmers got goals from seniors Max Sweeney (11th minute), Ryan Browne (48th minute) and Mason Lane (72nd minute) to hold off 5A Jeffco’s Pomona for a 3-2 victory.
“We came away with a win,” Wheat Ridge coach Tony Thomas said. “We let up a little bit, but a win is a win. It’s something to learn from going forward.”
Sweeney started the scoring with a shot that rocketed under the crossbar for an early 1-0 lead. However, Pomona back-up sophomore goalie Cesar Tamariz Ovalle came in and held the Farmers’ offense in check for the remainder of the first half.
Pomona freshman Robert Wehner (19) battles with Wheat Ridge senior Dan Van Note (10) for control of the ball during Tuesday’s non-league game at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
Despite dominating possession and scoring chances in the first 40 minutes Wheat Ridge found itself in a 1-1 tie going into halftime. Pomona senior Jake Semple scored with 13 seconds left in the first half on a long shot.
“It shows you can’t let down,” Thomas said. “We were good the first 10 minutes. After we scored we kind of let up. We got content being up 1-0. That isn’t how we want to go forward.”
The Farmers got back in gear with a goal early in the second half by Browne to regain the lead. Senior Evan Graves fired a shot that hit off a Pomona defender, but ended up right in front of Browne to set up a one-on-one against Tamariz Ovalle.
“It was pretty lucky. I’m not going to lie,” Browne said. “Evan had a great shot and it got deflected. It just landed on my foot.”
Wheat Ridge extended its lead to 3-1 in the 72nd minute when Lane slipped a tough angle shot into the back of the net.
Pomona answered again when sophomore Augusto Davalos sailed a long shot over the head of Wheat Ridge junior goalie Chase Odean in the 77th minute to make it a one-goal game again.
The Farmers (1-0) were able to keep the Panthers (0-1-1) at bay in the final three minutes to take the victory.
“I think we just kept our cool and played the way we needed to finish it out,” said Browne, one of 10 returning seniors for the Farmers.
Pomona junior goalie Zach Ramelow makes an early diving save in front of his net during the first half Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
Wheat Ridge grabbed the 4A Jeffco conference title last season with a 6-0-1 league record, but the Farmers were bounced out of the state tournament with a first-round loss to Denver South. That loss is still fresh for Wheat Ridge.
“It’s a reminder definitely for these guys,” Thomas said of the early postseason loss. “Every game counts and it doesn’t matter when it is during the season.”
Wheat Ridge returns to action with another non-league match. The Farmers host Longmont at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wheat Ridge High School. League play begins Sept. 16 back at Lakewood Memorial Field against rival Evergreen.
“We are expecting to do well,” Browne said. “Our goal is to win league, but we have a long ways to go.”
Pomona finished in the middle of the pack in 5A Jeffco in 2013. The Panthers’ 5-10 record last season wasn’t good enough to grab a berth in the 5A state tournament.
Pomona coach Mike Askin has only one senior this season in Semple, but could very well be in the mix for a playoff spot this season with its young core of players.
The Panthers opened their season with a 1-1 tie against Chaparral last week. Pomona heads to Aurora to face Gateway at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Wheat Ridge senior Dan Van Note, right, and Pomona junior Luis Aguilar race down the pitch at Lakewood Memorial Field during the first half Tuesday. Wheat Ridge took a 3-2 victory over Pomona. (Dennis Pleuss)