Hmmm.

Central’s 3-1 win over Glenwood Springs left a lot of folks wondering how good the 2008 team will be when, and if, the Warriors ever get healthy.

With a number of regulars on the sidelines nursing injuries during Thursday’s nonleague game, Central (3-0-0) was able to manufacture enough offense to outgun the Demons 3-1.

“I don’t look at the numbers. They have good programs, and we talked to the girls about not taking them lightly,” said Central head coach Larry Johnson of facing Class 3A Aspen and 4A Glenwood back to back.

Ashley Paul didn’t. The sophomore forward scored on an assist from Ari Herrara in the second minute.

“I wanted that goal because in all three of our games, we’ve scored in the first five minutes,” Johnson said.

The way the first half unfolded, Paul’s goal turned out to be a good thing.

Glenwood, fresh off a 2-1 overtime league loss to Steamboat Springs, tied the game
at 1-all midway into the half on Kendall Strautman’s goal set up by Hope Whitman.
Haleigh Higgins, sporting a knee brace, scored what turned out to be the winning goal for Central in the 32nd minute, when she beat Glenwood keeper Kelsie Hurt with a high shot to the near post.

After intermission, the Warriors forward netted the insurance goal five minutes inside the second half.

“I don’t think the girls were letting up. I think the game just settles into a certain mode,” Johnson said of the Warriors on-and-off offensive spurts.

Despite the defense limiting Glenwood to one shot on goal in the latter 40 minutes of play, Johnson classified the game as a “grind out win.”

“It was a grind out game meaning we had a lot of opportunities to score,” the coach said. And Central kept Hurt busy. The Warriors fired 19 total shots on the Demon netminder.

“We kept in there. Forced some turnovers and eventually got some goals ... I was very happy with today’s win.”

To go with the win Central has four days off to heal before resuming play next Tuesday night with Southwestern League rival Montrose at Mesa State College.