Cottonwood breaks out cleats in win as Duvnjak scores twice

Transitioning from the gym to the pitch has been perhaps the dominant story of this prep boys soccer preseason, and that theme was on full display at Cottonwood High Friday afternoon.

Cooped inside the Colts' gym for most of the preseason because of inclement weather, the Cottonwood Colts finally got outside and played someone other than themselves.

The results?

Mixed.

Despite being outplayed by Kearns throughout the second half, Cottonwood clung to a one-goal lead, eventually winning over the Cougars, 2-1.

The Colts seemed to run out of gas in the final 40 minutes, but, all in all, coach Brad Pino was satisfied with the nonregion victory.

"I'm pleasantly surprised," he said.

Cottonwood put the contest out of reach by scoring against the run of play in the 73rd minute. Junior captain Mario Duvnjak took a seemingly innocuous free kick roughly 35 yards off the line, and unleashed a venomous drive that ricocheted off the 'keeper and the cross-bar, eventually falling to defender Doug Haws. He swept the ball into the net from the far post, putting Cottonwood ahead 2-0.

What was Duvnjak trying to do?

"Just trying to get it on frame," he said.

Duvnjak scored the Colts' other goal, a long-distance strike that bounced wildly in front of the goalie in the 26th minute.

Leading 1-0 after halftime, the Colts came under heavy assault in the second half. Kearns carried almost all the play but couldn't punch the ball in the net.

Central midfielders Alex Sweat and Jordan Mathis orchestrated the Cougars' offensive attack and had several good scoring chances themselves.

Sweat notched a consolation goal for Kearns in the 74th minute.

Slowing down Sweat and Mathis will be a formidable challenge for Region 3 defenders.

"They're our leaders," coach Don Knapp said of the duo. "They're the ones who led us last year. They're willing to work."

Mathis' best scoring opportunity came in the 29th minute. From the left side, the junior's brilliant effort from distance cannoned off the upper-right corner of the goal.