LAKEWOOD - The 2007 season got off to a poor start for the Cherry Creek boys soccer team. By the time the final buzzer sounded, though, the Bruins had shown why they hold so much promise for the coming months.

Cherry Creek, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A, overcame some early first-game jitters to post a 2-1 victory against No. 5 Chatfield on Thursday afternoon at Lakewood Memorial Stadium in the opener for both teams.

The Bruins were sloppy early, allowing the Chargers to score less than eight minutes into the contest. Cherry Creek had the better of play after that and left satisfied with its initial outing.

"We didn't start very well, I wasn't very impressed," Bruins coach Chelo Curi said. "As soon as we gave up the goal, it kind of woke us up a little bit."

Cherry Creek upped its intensity after falling behind on Zach Foxhoven's early goal, but it took a great shot to get a ball past Chatfield keeper Issau Bissau.

Bissau, one of the top goal- scorers in Jefferson County in 2006, was great in his debut in goal, making a couple of spectacular plays among his eight saves during the first half.

Bissau had no chance, though, to stop Chris Podgorski's rocket in the 50th minute that tied the score 1-1.

Podgorski, a defender, was just outside the goal box waiting on Robert Derschang's corner kick. The ball bounced around before being played out to Podgorski, who drilled it into the top far corner of the goal from about 25 yards.

"Just a lucky ball coming off a corner that got deflected back," Podgorski said. "I was able to ping it in off the upper 90."

The Bruins' second goal was just as impressive. Junior Kenny McChesney held off a defender on his inside before punching a ball from 10 yards that sailed inside the near post.

"Their goalkeeper made some great saves in the first half. To be down 1-0, I thought he played outstanding," Curi said. "But I knew if we kept it up it would come. We told the guys to shoot a lot. That's how you beat a good keeper."

Cherry Creek held the Chargers to three shots on goal, none in the second half.

Cherry Creek......0	2	-	2
Chatfield......1	0	-	1

Goals - Ch, Zach Foxhoven (Dylan Hall assist), 8th minute; CC, Chris Podgorski, 50th minute; CC, Kenny McChesney, 68th minute.

Shots on goal - Chatfield, 3-0 3; Cherry Creek, 5-5 10. Saves - Chatfield (Issau Bissau) 5-3 8; Cherry Creek (Dan Alexander) 2-0 2. Corner kicks - Chatfield, 1-2 3; Cherry Creek, 5-4 9.

Cards - Ch, Taylor Weber (yellow) 42nd minute; CC, Mohamed Mennana (yellow) 60th minute; Ch, Conrad Bess (68th minute).

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