ARVADA — It was a game of new coaching faces and the implication of a new rule for the boys soccer season opener Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
It was the heading coaching debut for Ben Gantenbein (Arvada West) and Stephan Tallman (Standley Lake) in the first game of the season at the NAAC that is scheduled to host nearly 60 regular-season varsity games this Fall.
The non-league game between the Class 5A Jeffco League’s A-West and Class 4A Jeffco League’s Standley Lake ended in a 2-2 draw after 80 minutes of play. The new “no overtime” rule that went into effect this season ended the game with both teams shaking hands after regulation-time expired.
“We defended a lot. I’m happy with the way we competed,” Tallman said. “I don’t think the result was fair for (Arvada West) to be honest.”
A-West controlled possession for the majority of the game and held a 1-0 lead at halftime. A corner kick from senior Anthony Benallo was volleyed into the back of the net by junior Matthew Pointer in the 17th minute of the first half to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats had 15 corner kicks, but could only capitalize on one.
“I felt like since we had so many corners we didn’t have enough flying bodies in the box to get a head on those balls,” Benallo said.
Standley Lake tied the game in the 63rd minute by converting on a direct free kick. Senior Wilson Poveda Jr. rocked the free kick that was initially saved by A-West sophomore goalie Finley Pfannenstiel, but Standley Lake junior Drake Terra was able to get his head on the rebound it put it past Pfannenstiel for the game-tying goal.
“When you give up opportunities around the goal on set pieces you need to be a little more disciplined,” Gantenbein said. “We started to possess and really go at them. We need to finished our chances and be a little more disciplined in the back. We’ll get there.”
A-West regained the lead in the 70th minute with a great run by senior Timothy Marette, who slipped a shot past Standley Lake sophomore goalie Travis Frederickson for a 2-1 lead.
However, Standley Lake responded again on a corner kick. Senior Dominic Bujanda was able to redirect the ball just over the goal line in the 73rd minute to tie the game again.
The tie was clearly a good result for the Gators after getting drubbed by the Wildcats a year ago.
“Last year they struggled a little bit,” Tallman said about taking over the Gators that went 3-11-1 last year, including a 10-1 loss to A-West in the season opener. “We just want them to believe that they can play and believe in themselves.”
It is a homecoming for Gantenbein, who graduated from A-West in 2002.
“It’s wonderful,” Gantenbein said of taking over at his alma mater. “My kids will go to school there. I went to school there. It’s fun to be back.”
A-West missed out on the postseason last year with a 6-8-1 record that included a trio of 1-goal losses in conference play.
“By league I think we’ll have some real solid structure and be more comfortable in what we are asking the boys to do,” Gantenbein said. “We are bringing in some new stuff and new ideas. It’s going to take a little bit of time for them to get used to it.”
The Wildcats have road games against ThunderRidge and Denver North next week. A-West returns to NAAC on Aug. 31 to face defending 5A state champion Denver East.
Standley Lake has a road game at Skyline on Aug. 22 next week before facing conference rival Evergreen in a non-league game Aug. 25 at NAAC.