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Hemmings’ hat trick holds off Legends
Taryn Hemmings of Real Colorado slips past L.A. defender Jenae Gibbons to score the first of her three goals Tuesday at Highlands Ranch. (photos by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
At the end, the scoreboard showed Real Colorado Cougars 3, Los Angeles Legends 2.
But that was just part of the story.
Taryn Hemmings scored a hat trick Tuesday at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch, and Real Colorado allowed two goals after the 89th minute of regulation. The late goals by the Legends turned what was a fairly decisive performance by the Cougars into what was, at least briefly, a close game.
“The score definitely didn’t reflect the game,” Hemmings said. “It happens.”
Hemmings and the Cougars ruled the show for most of the match. She struck in the 12th minute of play, creating a goal out of some poor play by the Legends’ defense.
L.A. sweeper Jenae Gibbons, facing her own goal and with Hemmings in pursuit, attempted to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Alicia Lugo. Hemmings, though, inserted herself into the equation, slipping in between the two, stealing the ball and scoring an easy tap-in with only Lugo to beat.
Hemmings made it 2-0 moments before halftime. Jenna Owens and Hemmings converged simultaneously on a loose ball, and Owens deferred. Hemmings took a few touches to find open space and unleashed a sharp 20-yard strike over the head of Lugo.
That 2-0 advantage held up until the game was nearly over.
Second-half substitute Salma Tarik, standing square in front of goal, banged home a cross from the right wing in the 89th minute to cut the Cougars’ lead to 2-1.
Less than a minute later, Hemmings answered with her third goal, this one on an assist from Kerstyn Farrell.
At the time, this third score seemed more like punishment for the Legends breaking up goalkeeper Kristin Arnold’s shutout. But this goal turned out to be the winner, because Los Angeles’ Jess Murphy scored in extra time to make the final score look much closer than the game really was.
Cougars coach Brian Haynes was not happy after the match.
“They get a chance to score, goal. They get another chance to score, goal,” Haynes said. “We get five chances to score, seven chances, and you’re happy at 3-2? It should’ve been 5-2.”
And Haynes was right. The play was sloppy at times, but the Cougars maintained most of the possession and looked more dangerous.
Jennifer Kmezich had two great chances to score in the first half. Owens, aiming for a top corner, missed high in the 22nd minute and fired into the side netting after a great one-on-one move in the 52nd.
In the 76th minute, second half Mesa Owsley turned a long pass by Rebecca Herrera into a blast, but right at Lugo.
A header by Becca Mays, another sub, forced Lugo to make a dramatic leaping save in 79th minute. On the ensuing corner kick, Mays had another chance to score on a header but can’t get enough power on it.
And in the 87th, Hemmings gave up a chance to go for the hat trick in favor of slotting a square pass to Mays.
“I should’ve shot there and been selfish, but it’s more my style to look for the assist,” said Hemmings, a Greeley West High School graduate.
But it was good news for the Cougars that Hemmings looked for goals — three times — and found them on Tuesday.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Hemmings, of course. When you score three goals, you’re the player of the game. But some other players deserved mention. Owens had some inspired moments on offense and showed a fine work rate. Brittney Macdonald managed the game with precision and composure from the center of midfield. And right back Marissa McBride, who left the game after 76 minutes, was a rock at an often-unsung position.
SHEA STADIUM AND THE ELEMENTS: I’ve written before about the gorgeous view of the mountains and foothills from this facility, but the stadium manager told me Tuesday that he’d prefer the press box and main stands to be on the other side of the field, facing east. “And give up this view?” I asked. His point, though, was that the sunsets, although spectacular, act like a furnace in the press box. And the fans have to battle the setting sun to see the field. So far, covering the Cougars, I’ve been lucky. We had rain Tuesday evening and lots of cloud cover. It rained when the Pali Blues were here, too. Conditions at game time were overcast, about 65 degrees and wet. The turf was wet to start the game, but it didn’t affect play much. The artificial turf at Shea has good drainage. There was a steady breeze from the southwest, but all players were wearing short sleeves. (Do the teams in this league have matching long-sleeve kits?) The sun came out at halftime.
MASCOT MANIA: One mascot for Real Colorado tonight: “The Cougar.”
DESIGNATED LONG THROWER: Center back Gibbons takes the Legends’ throw-ins in the forward third, and her long throws are nearly as good as a corner kick. She caused problems when delivering the ball, and she had two chances to score when on the receiving end of free kicks in the second half. Despite her gaffe on Hemmings’ first goal, she was probably the best player on the field for the Legends.
NEXT HOME GAME: The Cougars will host Vancouver on July 19 in their final home game of the regular season.
COUGARS STARTERS: Arnold, Herrera, Bri Young, Elle Sweeney, McBride, Macdonald, Kellen Farrell, Karter Haug, Kmezich, Owens, Hemmings.
LEGENDS STARTERS: Lugo, Ashley Flatland, Jen Williams, Gibbons, Jocelyn Charett, Marlene Sandoval, Bria Beardsley, Lydia Cook, Daelyn Paul, Breanna Thornton, Jamie Bell.
George Tanner is a former writer and editor for the Rocky Mountain News; the Greeley Tribune; The Daily Independent of Ridgecrest, Calif.; the Durango Herald; and the Boulder Daily Camera. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and an associate professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. E-mail him at ColoradoSoccerNow@gmail.com.
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