Dynamite Postseason Hopes Dashed in Do-or-Die Loss to FC Denver

Last Friday night at the Westminster Sports Center, the Dynamite were hoping that 3 times would be a charm in their rematch versus FC Denver, a match they could not lose if they wanted to remain in the championship hunt. 

FC Denver would jump out of the gate quickly, with Ben Donovan and Ryan Tuomi combining on the first two goals. Tuomi scored the first with 12:48 remaining, and Donovan the second at 3:06.  With 38 seconds remaining, Joel Miller finished off a deflected Ryan McAleer shot to put FC Denver up 3-0. 

The Dynamite would come alive in the second quarter, receiving a great opportunity when FC Denver was awarded their 6^th foul with 8:42 remaining.  The Dynamite generated numerous opportunities during a textbook power play.   Near the end of the two minutes Tony Thomas found Javier Larios at the top of the arc, and Larios put the Dynamite on the board.  With 5:02 remaining, Mark Cromie scored off a Free Kick to cut the score to 3-2.  After numerous opportunities and a dominant second quarter, things looked promising for the Dynamite going into the half.

In the second half the floodgates would open.  FC Denver opened up the scoring early in the third with an Ian Marcheshi goal, assisted by Ben Donovan.  Down 4-2 the Dynamite faced and killed a power play, and for a brief period it looked like they were still in the match.  Then Tyler Wilson assisted on a Grant Lundberg goal at 7:41, and Edgar Olivas scored at 5:15 to give FC Denver a comfortable 6-2 lead. 

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, a Dynamite mistake would result in a Ben Donovan goal (assisted by Goalkeeper AJ Fleisher).   Ben Donovan would score yet again with 11:38 remaining, assisted by Ben Stump.  Less than a minute later Stump would assist on another goal, this time by Joel Miller.  The six straight goals gave FC Denver a commanding 9-2 lead.  With 8:06 remaining Justin Ferguson touched in a Jay Hamilton pass to cut the score to 9-3, although it was too little too late for the Dynamite. 

Ben Donovan led the FC Denver attack with 2 goals and 2 assists.  Joel Miller also had 2 goals.   Ryan Tuomi had 1 goal and 1 assist.   Justin Ferguson, Javier Larios, and Mark Cromie were the goal scorers for the Dynamite.  AJ Fleisher starred again in goal for FC Denver, with 37 saves and only 3 Goals Allowed.  Jordan Howes pulled in 34 saves for the Dynamite.  

The loss eliminates the Dynamite ahead of their final regular season match against the Colorado Blizzard this Saturday at 8:30pm, at the APEX Field House in Arvada.  The match will see the one game return of Chris Handsor, who starred for the Dynamite in their PASL-Pro days.  The Dynamite can also play spoiler, as the Blizzard need a win or tie to claim the Rocky Mountain Division title.  A win by the Dynamite means the title goes to FC Denver.