Late goal lifts Bear Creek boys soccer over Kennedy

LAKEWOOD — Bear Creek senior Jack Granbery’s third career goal gave the Bears a dramatic victory in their season opener Thursday night at Lakewood Memorial Field.

With under two minutes to play in a scoreless non-league boys soccer game against Kennedy, a Bear Creek corner kick finally settled in front of the Bears’ defender.

“Off the corner kick it got jumbled up in the middle. There was multiple teammates who went in to contest,” Granbery said. “I was kind of waiting at the top of the 6 (yard box). I saw my chance when the defenders had their back to me. The goalie nearly had the save.”

Granbery’s kick got through the melee of bodies and crossed the goal-line in the 79th minute to break the scoreless tie and give the Bears a 1-0 victory over the Commanders. 

“I’m glad I was actually able to score with my feet this time,” Granbery said referring to the running joke with the team about him scoring off a corner kick last year that hit off his back before going into the back of the net.

The victory was held up a bit due to a 45-minute lightning delay to start the game. The win was a big one for Bear Creek to open the season with a victory. It took until game four last season for the Bears to get in the win column.

“Kennedy played a hell of a game,” Granbery said. “I’m just glad we were able to pull through and put in a clutch one in at the end.”

Kennedy junior goalie Ricardo Ramirez Placido had a number of great saves late in the second half. Bear Creek freshman Larry Ocana’s volley in the 67th minute was saved, along with junior Brian Royal’s shot the was just stopped by Placido before it could cross the goal-line.

“Jack’s goal was about finally putting the ball in the mixer enough times,” Bear Creek coach Brett Carpenter said. “That keeper was special and we could not solve him. It took a ball ping-ponging around for us to get a goal.”

Bear Creek junior goalie Charlie Wells picked up the shutout victory in net for the Bears.

“It was a tight game,” Carpenter said.

Bear Creek is coming off a 4-10-1 overall record and 1-5-1 mark in the Class 5A Jeffco League last season. The Bears do drop down to the historically tough 4A Jeffco this season.

“I wouldn’t describe them in terms of wins and losses,” Carpenter said when asked about the expectations this season. “The expectation is to improve our level of play over the course of the season and be tough to play against.”

Bear Creek is back in action Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Lakewood Memorial Field where the Bears face Mountain Range.