9-30 Roundup

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
'Stangs earn rousing victory over Creek on the pitch; softball's slide continues; volleyball snaps four-match skid.
 
Mullen boys soccer bounced back like a super ball off a brick wall.

The Mustangs, obviously still smarting from their first setback of 2021, responded with a resounding 3-1 home victory over Cherry Creek on a suddenly cold and raw late Thursday afternoon in a Centennial League match.

Now 9-1 overall and 1-1 in league, Mullen, which has outscored its opposition 53-3, answered after Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Grandview on a penalty kick.

“That was just a bad night for us on Tuesday,” Mustangs head coach Matt Degitis said. “And I think this was a statement game for us, for sure.”

Mullen never trailed, led 2-0 at halftime and kept the Bruins chasing. It was their third consecutive victory over them, including two the past season, when, under COVID-19 restrictions, the Class 5A Bruins eventually made the big-school Colorado final and the 4A Mustangs, who also tied for the league crown, somehow missed the postseason. Mullen had been 0-9-2 in the previous 11 matches with the Bruins.

“I mean, we were talking about it on Tuesday night,” Mustangs senior center-midfielder Nolan Cooper said. “There’s no better game to bounce back than (against) Cherry Creek at home, all of our fans were out here and the weather was perfect for soccer.

“It was vital. Having struggled against Grandview to put away goals, then come in here and drop in three goals against Creek, there’s no better way to bounce back.”

Cooper, Eli Kerschen and Leo Aguilar had the goals. Andrew DeBerardinis and Jack Sargent contributed assists and Andrew McGrath handled the goal.

Said Degitis: “The biggest things in reflection about this team are it has incredible chemistry, (the players are) deep on the bench and they’re willing to step in unselfishly.”
 
MULLEN 3, CHERRY CREEK 1

Cherry Creek  0  1  --  1

Mullen  2  1  --  3

Mullen goals – Nolan Cooper, Eli Kerschen, Leo Aguilar.

Mullen assists – Andrew DeBerardinis, Jack Sargent.
 
SOFTBALL

The Mustangs dropped their eighth consecutive game on Thursday, 16-2 in six innings to visiting Cherry Creek at Santo “Doc” Scavuzzo Field in the Centennial League.

Mullen is 7-12 overall, 0-8 in league.

Leading 2-1 after four, the Mustangs were stung for five runs in the fifth and 10 in the sixth.

Morgan Margeson and Avery Walters had Mullen’s two hits. Bella Aragon and Leah Linares scored runs.

Mullen will host Smoky Hill in league on Saturday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.
 
CHERRY CREEK 16, MULLEN 2, 6 inn.

Cherry Creek  001  05(10)  --  16  14  1

Mullen  000  200  --  2  2  4

Mullen – Aragon cf 2-1-0-0, Margeson p 2-0-1-0, Brady 3b 3-0-0-1, Walters 2b-ss 3-0-1-0, Medina ss-p 1-0-0-0, Stewart c 2-0-0-0, Gutierrez rf 2-0-0-0, Martinez 2b 1-0-0-0, Hurtado 1b 2-0-0-0, Holz lf 2-0-0-0, Linares cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 20-2-2-1.

LOB – 5. SB – Aragon.

Pitching – Margeson (L) 5.1 IP, 14 H, 16 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 1 K; Medina 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K.
 
Volleyball

With a home sweep of Smoky Hill on Thursday, the Mustangs are on the board in the Centennial League and halted a four-match losing streak.

After a 25-12, 25-19., 26-24 victory, they moved to 7-5 overall, 1-2 in league.

Mullen will resume play on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Overland in Aurora in league, 6:30 p.m.
 
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