Post season accolades have poured in for the Gunnison boys soccer team.
After the Cowboys’ quarterfinal run in the Class 2A state tournament, the deepest GHS postseason advancement in program history, four players have been recognized for their play on the pitch.
No. 21 GHS (6-9-2) opened the postseason with a 3-0 first-round win at No. 12 Campion Academy. The Cowboys got back on the bus a few days later for another long trip east and knocked off Denver Christian 1-0 on Nov. 5.
The lowest seed left in the playoffs once again played the road warriors role but never got the match back on track after a freak first goal in a 4-0 loss at No. 4 Forge Christian. The Fury finished runners up in 2A after a 0-0 championship match against Western Slope and crosstown rivals Crested Butte went to double overtime and was settled with a 4-3 loss in penalty kicks.
Junior midfielder Eli Coop and goalkeeper Sam Anderson were named first-team 2A Western Slope. Coop turned in eight goals and eight assists for 24 points on the season. He moved between attacking midfielder and defensive back when he was needed.
GHS coach Susan Powers lauded his ability to transition between the two positions and do whatever the Cowboys needed on the pitch.
“Eli has a focus and intensity that comes through anytime he’s on the field that is unbeatable,” Powers said. “He’s the example of that in practice and in games.”
Anderson played every match, averaging 12.9 saves per game. He turned in four clean sheets on the season.
“His leadership was great, especially on the field,” Power said. “His ability to see the whole field and coach the back line to make sure everything was covered the way it needed to be covered was a huge contribution.”
Zavier Drendel notched two goals and three assists from the backline. Powers said while he probably would have preferred to be a midfielder, Drendel “ran the show” for the Cowboys’ backline.
Leading goal scorer Cesar Marmolejo found the back of the net 11 times and had two assists to match Coop for a team high 24 points. Both Drendel and Marmolejo were named Western Slope second team.
“When you put someone at the nine or 10 (position) you want them to be a finisher,” said Powers about Marmolejo. “That was his role. He scored the key goal in the game against Denver Christian. It was 0-0 for so long and when we really needed him he stepped up and produced, I’d call that moment his high point of the season.”
(James Nokes writes for Colorado Preps.)
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