ENGLEWOOD — A little thing a 16 seed didn’t bother Cherry Creek. The Bruins advanced to the Class 5A boys soccer championship game after beating Grandview in the semifinals. Creek will face Fairview who had a thrilling win over Liberty.

The 5A state title game will kick off at 3 p.m. at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

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(16) Cherry Creek 2, (4) Grandview 0

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

Rather than getting something in the area of the net, Carsten Jones just went right at it. And he was rewarded with a highlight reel goal – and a backflip to boot- that put No. 16 Cherry Creek, the last team entered on the Class 5A boys soccer state bracket, ahead.

Cyrus Gulati added another goal for the Bruins in the 30th minute and they came away with the 2-0 win over Grandview in the state semifinals. And now the Bruins are playing for a state championship. It’s been a remarkable playoff run for the Bruins (9-4 overall) who came away with a 1-0 win over top-seeded Regis Jesuit then followed it up with a 1-0 win over No. 9 Boulder.

By reaching the semifinals, the Bruins had simply come too far to not earn a trip to Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday.

“It’s crazy,” Jones said. “We lost like 14, 15 seniors last year so this is an all new lineup. It’s just been amazing. No one expected this from us and that’s why we’re here. We believed in ourselves.”

The Wolves (11-2) had a chance to cut into the Cherry Creek lead right before halftime as Knox Quarles was out of position, but the back line did a good job of cleaning the ball away from the net. From that point on, it felt as though Creek was never going to relinquish control of the game.

“We have a mindset that defense wins championships,” coach Wilmer Barerra said. “They’re so prepared and we’re going to fight until the end. Nobody thought we could go this far.”

Grandview came out with a more aggressive offensive attack in the second half and had another good look as Dylan Thompson had a wider open shot straight on the net. It sailed over the goal, allowing Creek to maintain a 2-0 lead.

With every chance the Wolves had of scoring, the Bruins defenders were able to clear the ball away from the net, rewarding the effort that the offensive had given to get the two-goal lead. It’s the kind of complementary effort that warrants a trip to the state championship game.

“We knew that they were going to press a lot,” Barerra said. “We knew that by doing that, they were going to give us that space up front. We were patient and that’s how we got those goals.”

The loss is just the second of the season for Grandview and both came against the Bruins. Back in the regular season meeting on March 23, Cherry Creek won 3-1 with Gulati scoring two goals in the effort.

This is the first trip to the state championship game since 2010 for Cherry Creek. The Bruins beat Mountain Vista 1-0 to claim the 5A title. The Bruins are 6-1 all-time in state championship games dating back to their first appearance in 1975.

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(2) Fairview 2, (3) Liberty 1

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Job Meuleman’s golden goal will be remembered for a long time. He buried a shot just over two minutes into overtime to give Fairview a 2-1 win over Liberty and a trip to a boys soccer state title game for the first time since 1984.

Neither Shane Williams or Theo Koch had any interest in letting a goal into the net. The Liberty and Fairview keepers put together solid first half performances. It was very much a chess match between the two undefeated teams in the first 40 minutes.

A corner attempt from Fairview late in the first half nearly broke the tie as Louis Kehoe gathered the ball right in front of the net. His shot sailed high, keeping the game scoreless. In the closing seconds of the half, Williams made a clutch save to fend off a late Liberty attack.

The Lancers struck early in the second half as Chase Compton broke the scoreless tie with a header off a throw in. Jake Milanski quickly answered for Fairview, tying the game up at a goal apiece.

Neither team could break the tie before time expired in regulation and the two teams went into extra time. It was just over two minutes into the extra period when Sebastien Mazur got behind the Liberty defense and found Meuleman for the goal.

This is Fairview’s second state championship game appearance. The Knights lost to Northglenn 2-1 back in 1984.

(Brad Cochi)

AURORA – In some riveting Class 4A action on Wednesday, both games were deciding by a decisive goal coming in the final minutes. When the dust settled, No. 2 Windsor and No. 5 Denver North emerged victorious.

Windsor and Denver North will play for the trophy in the Class 4A state title game at Noon on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

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(2) Windsor 2, (3) Niwot 1

The Windsor boys soccer players have been on an historic postseason run for their program and weren’t ready to get off the ride on Wednesday night.

In the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time, the No. 2 Wizards won 2-1 over No. 3 Niwot to take it one step further and solidify their debut in the state championship game. After the game, Windsor head coach Phillip Weiser tossed out words like, “excited,” “ecstatic,” and “thrilled” into the Legacy Stadium air but added that the team was also relieved to have gotten past the Cougars.

Heading into Saturday’s title match at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, the Wizards must also be relieved to know they have senior John Burnett, who has 19 goals in 12 games after scoring both of Windsor’s on Wednesday.

“It’s been a weird season,” Windsor coach Philip Weiser said. “I’ve been doing this for 19 years and it’s never looked anything like this. And that’s a special group of young men right there and all credit to them for their dedication and what they were willing to sacrifice on the field and on the bench. It’s just collectively a great group of young men.”

Burnett gave the Wizards (12-0) the early lead with a penalty-kick goal in the 13^th minute. Niwot (11-2) senior Keegan Stobbe tied the game five minutes later with a goal of his own on a free kick.

With just over six minutes left in the second half, Burnett broke the tie with a goal in the 74^th minute to send the Wizards on to the final.

“It was a heck of a game. That Niwot is a solid team,” Weiser said. “They really came out in that first half and took it to us. It knocked us off our game and we had to refocus at halftime and kind of come out and play the way we did. The boys, they really responded at halftime and came out and played a heck of a game of soccer.”

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(Brad Cochi)

(5) Denver North 2, (8) Lewis-Palmer 1

Sophomore Cyrus Tracy was in attendance as an eighth grader in 2018 when the Denver North boys soccer team was last in the Class 4A state semifinals.

Tracy remembers the experience vividly and as he was preparing to enter with five minutes left in Wednesday night’s semifinal against Lewis-Palmer at Legacy Stadium, this time wearing his own Vikings jersey, he received an interesting bit of encouragement from head coach Clay Porter. The coach asked his charge to consider how could would it be if he went from watching a Denver North semifinal as a young fan to scoring the game-winner as a player.

Turns out, it was pretty cool indeed when Tracy scored with two minutes left in the game to seal a 2-1 victory and send the Vikings back to the state championship game.

“It was an amazing experience,” Tracy said. “He told me it would be really cool if I went and go a game-winner, and I did. We’ve never won a soccer state championship and the last Denver North state championship of any kind was like 45 years ago or something. So, we’re trying to change that.”

The Vikings trailed in Wednesday’s game after Ethan Mann scored in the 36th minute to give No. 8 Lewis-Palmer (10-3) the first lead of the game. Denver North’s Ethan Najar, however, scored to tie the game in the with 14 minutes, 30 seconds left in the second half. Then it took Tracy’s timely goal to turn the tide and allow No. 5 Denver North (12-1) to advance.

“We were in the semi in 2018 also and we won that one too,” said Porter, whose birthday was Wednesday. “It was a hot game like this one was. It was tough and I don’t even know what to say right now. I can’t believe that just happened and I’m proud of those players because it’s all them.”

The Vikings will take on No. 2 Windsor in the Class 4A championship game at Noon on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Wednesday’s Class 3A boys soccer state semifinals certainly featured their share of fireworks and the action didn’t disappoint. At the end of the evening, a recent-year regular and an underdog that just keeps pulling through in the postseason that emerged from the final four teams.

In Saturday’s 3A championship match at 6 p.m. at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, No. 1 Colorado Academy will take on No. 14 Frontier Academy.

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(1) Colorado Academy 2, (4) KIPP Denver Collegiate 1

More photos. (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

It hasn’t been all that long since its last trip, and the Colorado Academy boys soccer team is heading back to the Class 3A state championship for the first time in four seasons.

On Wednesday evening at Legacy Stadium, the top-seeded Mustangs won 2-1 over No. 4 KIPP Denver Collegiate in the state semifinals at Frederick High School. Both teams were unbeaten in Season C entering the game, and it was the Mustangs (13-0) who prevailed in order to remain undefeated and punch their ticket to the state final at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday.

“It’s just really exciting to see the boys have an opportunity to play for a trophy,” Colorado Academy head coach Gabe Bernstein said. “So many teams in the state are working so hard in the offseason to get to that title game, and I’m proud of our guys for getting there. This is a special senior group that’s very motivated and has been working towards this point for several years now, so we’re really excited for them.”

Colorado Academy senior Grady Behrhorst put the Mustangs on the board in the first half and 10 minutes into the second half, senior captain Nick Maffei scored to give them a two-goal lead. Sophomore Francisco Morales scored for KIPP Denver Collegiate (12-1) but the White Tigers weren’t able to generate an equalizing score before time expired on what was an excellent Season C campaign.

“It was one of those games when you’re winning 1-0 and as you get deeper into the game, it gets a little hairy and a little nervy,” Bernstein said. “That second goal helped. Credit KIPP for getting one back. They’re an extremely well-coached group and they made it tough, but I think our boys weathered that well and did a good job of finishing out the game.”

On Saturday, Colorado Academy will be going for its fifth boys soccer title.

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(14) Frontier Academy 2, (2) Liberty Common 1

More photos. (Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

Frontier Academy has never won a boys soccer state championship, but that could be changing soon if the Wolverines can keep up their current pace and pull off one more upset.

Seeded 14^th out of 16 postseason teams in Class 3A, Frontier Academy took down No. 3 Lamar and No. 6 Manitou Springs to reach Wednesday’s semifinals at Frederick High School. Then they did it again, breaking a second-half stalemate to knock off No. 2 Liberty Common, a team they lost two twice during the regular season, with a surprising 2-1 victory.

On Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, the Wolverines (10-4) will play in their program’s first state championship game. Fittingly in line with the favorite-laden road the Wolverines took to get there, their opponent will be No. 1-seeded Colorado Academy.

In the semifinals, Justin Kleen gave Liberty Common (11-1) the early lead just under 14 minutes into Wednesday night’s game. That lead stood until Frontier Academy’s Brock Ramirez tied the game with a penalty kick nine minutes after the midway break. In the 71^st minute, Seth Sheppard scored on a penalty kick to give Frontier Academy the victory and send the Wolverines to their first state title match.

The Class 3A state championship game will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

(Renee Partridge/CHSAANow.com)

Thomas MacLaren and Crested Butte will meet for the Class 2A boys soccer championship on Saturday. The teams advanced to the title game with wins in their respective semifinal games on Wednesday.

The 2A state title game is scheduled for a 9 a.m. kick at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

(2) Crested Butte 6, (3) Dawson School 0

Crested Butte is back in the state championship game for the second time in three seasons. The Titans jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime and just kept pouring the goals on in the second half.

This marks the first trip to the state title game since 2018 when the Titans edged Telluride 1-0 in overtime to win their only boys soccer title thus far.

Gabi Marmolejo scored the first goal with an assist from Jacob Burnholtz. and Nathan Sawyer each scored multiple goals for the Titans (8-1-2 overall) to pace them in the win. The Mustangs (6-3-1) had gone five straight games without getting shut out, but couldn’t muster a goal to slow keep pace with Crested Butte.

A quick lead and a big win was the ideal way for the Titans to head into the championship game with confidence.

“I was surprised with how we our team was playing,” coach Than Acuff said. “Dawson might’ve been feeling the bus ride. The boys started on fire and then stalled and then just turned it up in the second half. We were really excited to see that.”

The Titans have now outscored their opponents 14-0 in the 2A playoffs. They’ll try to maintain that offensive efficiency in the 2A state title game which is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

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(5) Thomas MacLaren 3, (1) Denver Christian 2

Thomas MacLaren is off to its first boys soccer state championship game in program history. The Highlanders scored a late goal to get a 3-2 over Denver Christian and earn a berth in the 2A championship game where they’ll play Crested Butte.

It was a bit of quick scoring fest in the first half as Thomas MacLaren took a 2-1 lead.

The Thunder had a chance to tie the game with about 11 minutes left in the first half, but an aggressive play from Highlanders keeper Jeth Fogg knocked the ball away from the net to keep his team in the lead.

Mark Detrick scored the tying goal for Denver Christian late in the first half giving the team renewed energy going into the final 80 minutes.

But it wouldn’t sustain as the Highlanders broke the tie late and held on to get the win.

FREDERICK — The Class 3A boys soccer championship game is set as No. 1 Colorado Academy will take on No. 14 Frontier Academy on Saturday.

• The 3A boys soccer bracket
• Semifinal recap

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Colorado Academy vs. KIPP Denver

• Link to gallery

(Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

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Frontier Academy vs. Liberty Common

• Link to gallery

(Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

ENGLEWOOD — The Class 5A boys soccer championship game is set as No. 2 Fairview will take on No. 16 Cherry Creek on Saturday.

• The 5A boys soccer bracket
• Semifinal recap

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Cherry Creek vs. Grandview

• Link to gallery

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

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Fairview vs. Liberty

• Link to gallery

(Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

It’s onto the Class 5A boys soccer semifinals for No. 3 Liberty. The Lance beat district rival, No. 6 Pine Creek, 2-1 on Saturday.

Denver North senior Alex Martinez celebrates after scoring the Vikings’ first goal in the 47th minute Saturday at Denver North High School. The Vikings defeated Golden 2-0 in the Class 4A state quarterfinal game to advance Denver North into the state semifinals Wednesday, April 28, at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

DENVER — Denver North has taken a step toward another shot at winning the school’s first boys soccer state championship title.

The No. 5-seeded Vikings dominated No. 13 Golden in a Class 4A state quarterfinal match Saturday at Denver North High School. Seniors Alex Martinez and Aaron Cendejas put in second-half goals for Denver North to give the Vikings a 2-0 victory over the Demons.

Denver North senior Lorenzo Hernandez (6) goes up for header above Golden senior Tamas Delmonico (11) during the Class 4A state quarterfinal game Saturday at Denver North High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Coming in as an underdog a lot of teams don’t take us seriously,” Martinez said. “Sooner or later we’ll get more respect to our name. If not, we are going to make a name for ourselves.”

Denver North has been one of the most consistent 4A boys soccer programs over the past four seasons. The Vikings have advanced to the state quarterfinals each of the past four years, including a berth in the 4A championship game in 2018. Air Academy defeated Denver North 2-0 a few seasons ago.

With seven seniors that have experienced so much success, the Vikings weren’t about to drop a state playoff game on their home field. Despite being a scoreless game through the first half, Denver North controlled the run of play and coach Clay Porter knew if his team stuck to its game the goals would eventually come against Golden.

“These guys have been doing this for four years now,” Porter said. “I put club teams together so these guys can play year-round together. The style we play gets everyone involved. I think that gets everyone more excited to play.”

Denver North junior Gavin Shary (14) races after the ball with Golden sophomore Alex Chaffee (5) closing in during the Class 4A state quarterfinal game Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Martinez brought the excitement with a goal in the 47th minute to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Junior Ian Najar fed a long pass ahead as instructed by Martinez.

“I noticed that (Golden’s) back line was pushing up and leaving a wide gap,” Martinez said. “I told my center back Ian to play my through. I was able to control it and volleyed it into the side of the net. It gave us the momentum we needed and we finished off strong.”

Martinez, along with fellow seniors Axel Ruiz and Cendejas combined to make it a 2-goal lead in the 61st minute. Martinez fired a pass to Ruiz, who found Cendejas open in front of the Demons’ net. Cendejas tucked the ball into the back of the net for the final goal of the game.

“We talk about composure a lot,” Martinez said. “Calming down and finishing. We took that into the second half. We slowed things down and started playing our game.”

Golden (6-5-1 record) never got many scoring chances. The Demons were coming off a first-round road upset victory against No. 4 Skyview on Thursday, but couldn’t find their offense against Denver North.

Denver North sophomore Cyrus Tracy (12) and Golden junior Ian Segur battle for a ball during the first half Saturday at Denver North High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“They did not give us an inch,” Golden coach Larry Harding said of the Vikings. “They are technical. They have a very good team. Our boys played as hard as they could. Denver North is just the better team.”

Harding graduates a dozen seniors and he won’t get much time to reflect on the season. Harding turns around Monday with tryouts as the head coach for Golden’s girls soccer team.

Denver North (11-1) continues its quest for a state title when it faces No. 8 Lewis-Palmer (10-2) in the semifinals Wednesday, April 28, at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. The Rangers scored a 4-0 victory Saturday against top-seeded Battle Mountain.

No. 2 Windsor and No. 3 Niwot will square-off in the other semifinal Wednesday night at Legacy Stadium.

The Vikings are two wins away from capturing the school’s first team state championship in any gender or sport since 1977. Denver North’s last state title was the AAA baseball crown 44 years ago.

“It’s not about one player. The whole team is what brings us together,” Martinez said. “Everyone has their own skill set that brings us closer as a team.”

Golden senior Nate Swanson (17) head a ball out of danger during the second half Saturday at Denver North High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Top-seeded Colorado Academy advanced to the Class 3A boys soccer semifinals with a 1-0 win over No. 8 Faith Christian.

Arvada West sophomore Yavani Tamayo (21) scored the game-winning goal in the Class 5A first-round state playoff game Thursday night at Rangeview High School. Tamayo scored with 2:38 left regulation-time to give the Wildcats the 2-1 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

AURORA — A clean slate to start the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament is exactly what Arvada West needed.

A-West was trending in the wrong direction finishing out the regular season. The Wildcats went 0-1-2 — along with a “no contest” against rival Ralston Valley from a game was postponed twice and eventually cancelled because of snowstorms — in their last two weeks of the regular season.

However, the No. 12-seeded Wildcats turned things around in the opening round of the state tournament Thursday night at No. 5 Rangeview. A-West scored a 2-1 upset victory against the 5A EMAC champions to advance to the 5A state quarterfinals Saturday, April 24.

Arvada West senior Noah Kanagy (13) uses some fancy footwork to get past Rangeview defender Ismael Dembele on Thursday night. Kanagy’s goal in the 27th-minute gave the Wildcats the early lead. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“I think the boys overcame,” A-West coach Troy Gette said. “They worked hard through the midfield and our defense has been solid all season. They stuck together.”

Not only was A-West (7-1-2 record) looking for its first win since April 6 on Thursday night to open the state playoffs, the Wildcats were without the services of starting goalie Jacob Landskov and senior Kyler Tate, one of the top players in 5A Jeffco.

“We really had a lot of momentum going into the season. We won those first six games to carry that momentum. After Kyler left and we had some injuries we slowed down a bit,” A-West senior captain Noah Kanagy said. “I think this game is the turning point to getting back that momentum.”

It looked liked A-West and Rangeview were headed to overtime tied 1-1 in the final minutes of regulation-time at Rangeview High School. Sophomore Yavani Tamayo had other ideas.

“I kept looking at the time. I remember seeing there was 4 minutes left,” Tamayo said. “I thought, ‘I had to help this team out. We’ve got to go and keep pushing up.’”

Tamayo found himself on the far post unmarked with 2:38 left on the clock to punched home the eventual game-winning goal.

“I thought I was going to miss it,” Tamayo admitted. “I played it with my left foot, then it went to my right and I shot it.”

Tamayo didn’t start, but Gette subbed in the sophomore at the right time to send the Wildcats into the quarterfinals where they will be on the road again Saturday to face No. 4 Grandview (10-1).

Rangeview senior Eduardo Garcia Fonseca (6) looks for a way around Arvada West junior Dylan Richards (5) during the first half Thursday night. Garcia Fonseca scored on a penalty kick in the second half for the Raiders’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Wildcats. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“He (Tamayo) just stayed composed and has a great first touch,” Gette said. “The build up to it was good. It was a great ball to him. The whole play was fantastic.”

Sophomore goalie Ethan Kerstiens was fantastic in net for A-West. It was actually Kerstiens first varsity start with Landskov missing the game. Landskov is a cast member in A-West’s spring musical “The Theory of Relativity” which had a show Thursday night.

“He was awesome,” Gette said of Kerstiens.

Kanagy — A-West’s leading scorer — gave the Wildcats the first-half lead with a goal in the 27th minute off a bad giveaway by Rangeview (10-1-1).

“We were high pressing and they made the mistake,” Kanagy said of capitalizing on the Raiders’ turnover deep in their own zone. “I picked up the ball, took a touch and put it in the top left corner.”

Rangeview tied the game on a penalty kick by senior Eduardo Garcia Fonseca in the 51st minute in the second half before Tamayo’s late minute heroics for A-West.

Despite finishing third in 5A Jeffco this season after winning back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019, A-West is the lone 5A Jeffco team remaining in the tournament with both Valor Christian and Lakewood suffering first-round losses Thursday.

“Anything can happen,” Gette said as the Wildcats prepare for the quarterfinals this weekend. “We have to figure out how to be more productive and efficient offensively, but we’ll get there.”

Arvada West sophomore Luke Schultz (14) attempts to get off a kick during the Wildcats’ upset victory Thursday night. A-West will face No. 4 Grandview on Saturday, April 24, in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)