Dynamite Fall to FC Denver in Regular Season Opener

     Friday night saw the PASL-Premier Rocky Mountain Division 2012-13 season open with a new inner city rivalry in front of a packed house at the Westminster Sports Center, as a veteran Denver Dynamite club took on FC Denver in their inaugural PASL match.  Youth would trump experience in this installment of the new rivalry, as FC Denver set out to prove they belong at the PASL-Premier level.

     The first goal would come one and a half minutes in for the Dynamite by Justin Ferguson, assisted by Chad Pearson on a play that originated as a set piece.  Midway through the First Quarter, Tyler Imbrongo would score the first goal in FC Denver PASL history, to even the match.  Unfortunately for the Dynamite, Chad Pearson would have to be helped off the field after this goal, not to return for the remainder of the match.

     FC Denver broke a 1-1 stalemate early in the Second Quarter with three straight goals by Edgar Olivas, Shane Wheeler, and Grant Lundberg; pumping up the home FC Denver crowd.  The Dynamite got back on the scoreboard with a Mark Cromie goal, to cut the score at 4-2.   Joel Miller would answer back for FC Denver with 4 minutes left in the half, to give FC Denver a 5-2 lead going into the break.

     Ryan Tuomi would extend the FC Denver lead in a low scoring Third Quarter, which saw Jay Hamilton score late in the period off a free kick at the top of the arc to cut the lead to 6-3.

     Alex Aguirre opened the scoring for FC Denver in the 4th quarter to give the men in green their biggest lead of the night up to that point at 7-3.  After a disallowed FC Denver goal, former Colorado Predator / Colorado Lightning star Josh Elbaum knocked home a Jay Hamilton pass to cut the lead to 7-4.  With renewed hope, the Dynamite pulled their keeper and brought in the 6th attacker, but it was too late.  The Dynamite were caught giving up a free kick at the top of the arc to FC Denver without a goaltender, and 6th attacker Jay Hamilton could not stop Joel Miller as he blasted the free kick into the top of the net.  After a handball against Hamilton, FC Denver would score a power play goal by Brian Svoboda to round out the scoring at 9-4.

     Jay Hamilton led the Dynamite with 10 shots, one goal, and one assist.  Joel Miller led FC Denver with 2 goals in a match that saw 8 different goal scorers for FC Denver, and 4 for the Dynamite.   Both starting keepers turned in great performances, with the Dynamite's Garrison Goodner earning 19 saves, and FC Denver's Wally Fink collecting 26.

     The Dynamite home opener is this Saturday at 8:30pm at the APEX Field House in Arvada.  Single Game tickets are available for $5, and group season passes (4 people for 4 games each) are still available for only $35, with proceeds going to Mended Little Hearts.  Tickets can be purchased on the Dynamite website , just click on the Store link on the main menu.   The Dynamite will be facing defending Division champion Colorado Blizzard, who are coming off a 14-4 victory on Saturday over the CSC Cavalry. The Cavalry defeated the Dynamite in an US Open Cup Qualifier 12-7 the previous weekend.   The Dynamite must be at the top of their game for this crucial early season match, as it is now clear that there are no weak teams in this division.