CHSAANow

Category: Boys Soccer

  • Chemistry, experience working in Air Academy boys soccer’s favor

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    Air Academy finished runner-up a season ago in the 4A title game. (Pam Wagner)

    Air Academy’s boys soccer team isn’t just a collection of friends uniting toward a shared goal.

    The Kadets think of themselves as a family — in more ways than one. Austen Dewing and cousins David Louthan and James Sims are all seniors, and another cousin, John, graduated a year ago. It’s a tight-knit group, even among those not related, and that is a big reason why Air Academy advanced to the Class 4A state championship game last fall before falling 2-1 to rival Cheyenne Mountain.

    “We’ve grown up playing together since I think we were 4. We know how to play with each other and we still love doing it,” Dewing said. “It makes us want to work that much harder for each other and the effort rubs off on other guys as well. They connect with it a little bit and it just makes the team chemistry amazing.”

    After winning the 4A crown in 2010, the Kadets fell in the quarterfinals in 2011 and were eliminated in the first round the next season. Things turned around last year as the team dropped only two games — one to eventual 5A champion Pine Creek, the other to the Indians in the 4A championship.

    They enter 2014 ranked No. 2 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

    “I think the players that returned last year really used that as an added inspiration,” Kadets coach Espen Hosoien said of the early exit in 2012. “We were full of hope.”

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    (Pam Wagner)

    That mantra holds true again this fall. Hosoien is entering his 11th season and has a strong senior and junior class coming back. The defense is experienced and talented, with Sims serving as a captain as a junior, and goalkeeper Matt Pipan returns as well.

    Dewing continued to evolve as a player last year, scoring 23 goals — tied for 12th overall in 4A — to also go along with a team-high 14 assists.

    “It definitely helped that I grew a few inches and gained a few pounds. I was able to do a little more for my team,” he said. “But it’s not possible for me to get that without my teammates.”

    Facing Pikes Peak rival Cheyenne Mountain for the state title wasn’t an ideal situation, given that the two teams had already played earlier in the season. Players from both teams compete together during the club season, so while Dewing said the loss wasn’t personal, it did motivate the Kadets to work harder and be that much better this fall.

    The excitement to get 2014 underway is palpable, but Hosoien understands that his team is guaranteed nothing coming into the season.

    “It’s going to take some leadership from some of the returning players,” he said of keys to success. “I feel like we have a pretty good grasp of keeping these guys hungry and ready to go, and realizing hey, people are going to be gunning for us.

    “With the athletes we have, I think we’ll be able to manage that pretty well.”

    [divider]

    Class 4A boys soccer

    Defending champion: Cheyenne Mountain

    Runner-up: Air Academy

    Returning All-State players: Brendan Clark, Jr., Valor Christian (2nd); Austin Dewing, Sr., Pine Creek (1st); Griffin Dorsey, Soph., Evergreen (1st); D’Angelo Escobar, Sr., Skyview (1st); Nate Flack, Sr., D’Evelyn (2nd); Cameron Guzman, Sr., Silver Creek (1st); Porter Milner, Soph., Broomfield (1st); Eric Spangler, Jr., Centaurus (2nd); Cruz Valdez, Sr., Skyline (2nd).

    Regular Season begins: Aug. 21

    Playoffs begin: Oct. 22

    Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

  • Consistency has Pine Creek always a threat for boys soccer titles

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    Senior Nick Bannister (11) is the lone returning all-state player for Pine Creek. (Pam Wagner)

    Normally the loss of two first team all-state players would make it difficult for any team to repeat as state champions. But don’t tell that to the Pine Creek Eagles boys soccer team.

    With the fall season underway, the Eagles find themselves without three key components to last season’s championship team. Yet, they are still expected to remain well in the hunt — and are considered favorites by some — to walk away as champions for a second straight year. In fact, the Eagles opened up as No. 1 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason poll.

    But coach Ben Corley insists that his team’s key to success is not the personnel, but their ability to identify what makes them successful as a team and maintaining those standards throughout the season.

    “The biggest thing is looking at last season and identifying the character traits and the attributes that are a part of the DNA of our program,” Corley said. “Our success (last season) came out of focus and the amount of daily work that we put in.”

    The Eagles have been a staple in the state tournament for the last several years, but finally got over the hump with their 1-0 double-overtime win against Rock Canyon back in November.

    With the added pressure of defending their title, they’re choosing to look at the task similar to the way they did last season. While a second straight championship is the ultimate goal, they have to conquer every practice and succeed in each game in order to reach that mountain top.

    “It’s not about looking a big, broad-stroke concept such as defending a championship,” Corley said. “It’s as much about replicating those steps rather than worrying about the results.”

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    (Pam Wagner)

    The Eagles will be without all-state players Aaron Haefner and David Meyer. Meyer’s absence will probably be felt the most as he minded the net for the Eagles during their title run. But the Eagles won’t be found at any pity party over the loss of their seniors. Instead, they’re anxious to see how their shoes will be filled.

    “We feel like there are opportunities for guys to step up. It’s more opportunity than anything,” Corley said. “Our backup keeper last year, Logan Thomas, was a junior. He’s excited to step in and be the guy in goal. He’s also a varsity basketball player and has a lot of hops.”

    It will help that senior midfielder Nick Bannister returns to the team. Bannister is the only returning all-state player for Pine Creek and ranked second on the team in goals scored.

    They’ll need Bannister to be in top form early in the year as the Eagles first four games consist of three of the CHSAANow.com top-10 ranked teams. The non-league blitz against Cherry Creek, Rangeview and Denver East will give the Eagles a glimpse of how their 2014 competition will shape up.

    [divider]

    Class 5A boys soccer

    Defending Champion: Pine Creek

    Runner-up: Rock Canyon

    Returning All-State Players: Nick Banniser Sr., Pine Creek (1st); Kevin del Mazo, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Zach Fronapfel, Sr., Fort Collins (1st); Ben Overholt, Sr., Chatfield (1st); Walter Prince, Sr., Smoky Hill (1st); Chase Breslaw, Sr., Heritagee (2nd); Peter Hendricks, Sr., Ralston Valley (2nd); Marcus Krause, Sr., Doherty (2nd); Colton Ladyga, Sr., Smoky Hill (2nd); Dalton Lundberg, Sr., Heritage (2nd); Jorge Rangel, Sr., Grandview (2nd); Roberto Valasquez, Sr., Highlands Ranch (2nd); Nick Vergara, Sr., Eaglecrest (2nd)

    Regular season begins: Aug. 21

    Playoffs begin: Oct. 23

    State Championship: Nov. 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)

  • Salida among preseason No. 1 teams in boys soccer

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    Pine Creek is the No. 1 team in this year’s preseason Class 5A boys soccer ranking. (Pam Wagner)

    Pine Creek, Cheyenne Mountain and Salida are on top of CHSAANow.com’s preseason boys soccer rankings.

    Both Pine Creek (5A) and Cheyenne Mountain (4A) are defending champions, while Salida was a semifinalist in 3A last season.

    Following Pine Creek in the 5A ranking is No. 2 Rock Canyon, No. 3 Boulder, No. 4 Denver East and No. 5 Smoky Hill. Grandview is sixth, Fairview is seventh, Heritage is eighth, Cherry Creek is ninth and Rangeview is tenth.

    Air Academy is No. 2 in 4A after Cheyenne Mountain.

    Defending 3A champion Colorado Academy is second in that ranking, just two points behind Salida.

    The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, polls will be released each Monday.

    Complete rankings for each class are below.

    [divider]

    CHSAANow.com Boys Soccer Polls

    Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM PTS
    1 Pine Creek (8) 91
    2 Rock Canyon (1) 89
    3 Boulder (1) 69
    4 Denver East 66
    5 Smoky Hill 60
    6 Grandview 47
    7 Fairview 31
    8 Heritage 27
    9 Cherry Creek 18
    10 Rangeview 14
    Others receiving votes:
    Liberty 10, Arvada West 6, Montbello 6, Fort Collins 5, Arapahoe 3, George Washington 3, Ralston Valley 3, Broomfield 2.

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM PTS
    1 Cheyenne Mountain (9) 97
    2 Air Academy (1) 76
    3 Evergreen 72
    4 Ponderosa 54
    5 Battle Mountain 50
    6 Niwot 36
    7 Denver North 31
    8 Standley Lake 27
    9 Centaurus 26
    10 Pueblo West 13
    Others receiving votes:
    Valor Christian 10, Wheat Ridge 10, Palmer Ridge 8, Lewis-Palmer 6, Summit 6, Longmont 5, D’Evelyn 4, Silver Creek 4, Greeley West 3, Green Mountain 3, The Classical Academy 3, Montrose 2, Pueblo Central 2, Pueblo Centennial 1, Windsor 1.

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM PTS
    1 Salida (5) 67
    2 Colorado Academy (2) 65
    3 Coal Ridge 49
    4 Fountain Valley 48
    5 Denver Christian 39
    6 Kent Denver 35
    7 Sheridan 29
    8 Vail Mountain 18
    9 Bruce Randolph 12
    10 Frontier Academy 8
    Others receiving votes:
    Aurora West 5, Manitou Springs 5, Roaring Fork 3, Faith Christian 2.

  • All-state boys soccer teams for 2013 season

    The 2013 all-state boys soccer teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

    These team were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches. Find more information here.

    The players who received the most votes in their classification were selected as the player of the year in their class.

    Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    Player of the year: Kevin del Mazo, Smoky Hill

    First Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Nick Bannister Pine Creek Junior M
    Ben Bartlett Rock Canyon Senior M
    Javier Castruita Boulder Senior M
    Kevin del Mazo Smoky Hill Junior M
    Mason Doulliard Boulder Senior F
    Zach Fronapfel Fort Collins Junior M
    Aaron Haefner Pine Creek Senior M
    Jason Kagie Cherry Creek Senior M
    Josh Krackle Rock Canyon Senior M
    Zach Lokay Fairview Senior D
    David Meyer Pine Creek Senior GK
    William Murphy George Washington Senior M
    Ben Overholt Chatfield Junior F
    Walter Prince Smoky Hill Junior F
    Hector Rodriguez Poudre Senior F
    Jake Smith Grandview Senior M
    Klinton Spencer Liberty Senior F/M
    Nicholas Verfaillie Denver East Senior M
    Second Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Mubarak Abdulai Palmer Senior F
    Chase Breslaw Heritage Junior F
    Peter Hendricks Ralston Valley Junior M/F
    Henry Huettel Boulder Senior GK
    Jeff Ingell Highlands Ranch Senior D
    Marcus Krause Doherty Junior M
    Colton Ladyga Smoky Hill Junior D
    Dalton Lundberg Heritage Junior M
    Alexander Makic Ralston Valley Senior D
    Wesley Padgett Fruita Monument Senior F
    Jorge Rangel Grandview Junior M
    Brandon Reich Rampart Senior F
    John Schaffer Highlands Ranch Senior M
    Roberto Velasquez Highlands Ranch Junior M
    Nick Vergara Eaglecrest Junior D
    Kyle Vigil Mountain Vista Senior F

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Player of the year: Roberto Diaz, Battle Mountain

    First Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Danny Bautista Denver North Senior F
    Antonio Chairez-Salazar Greeley Central Senior GK
    Austen Dewing Air Academy Junior F
    Roberto Diaz Battle Mountain Senior M
    Griffin Dorsey Evergreen Freshman F
    D’Angelo Escobar Skyview Junior F
    Erich Frey Cheyenne mountain Senior GK
    Ben Gibble Broomfield Senior M
    Alex Granados Air Academy Senior M
    Cameron Guzman Silver Creek Junior F
    John Herd Cheyenne mountain Senior M
    AJ Hutchison Greeley Central Senior D
    David Louthan Air Academy Senior D
    David Mcdermed Cheyenne Mountain Senior M/F
    Connor Metzger Broomfield Sophomore F
    Porter Milner Broomfield Sophomore M
    Alexis Robles Battle Mountain Senior F
    Danny Witt Niwot Senior F
    Alex Wormer Evergreen Senior D
    Second Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Chad Caruth Pueblo Centennial Senior M
    Brendan Clark Valor Christian Sophomore M
    Austin Dewing Air Academy Senior F
    Nate Flack D’Evelyn Junior M
    Matt Hornbecker Evergreen Senior GK
    Christian McBee Greeley Central Senior D
    Jaydon Moreschini Pueblo West Senior F
    Max Ortiz Summit Senior M
    Brandon Osorio Battle Mountain Senior M
    Jason Pocalyko Longmont Senior M
    Johnny Sims Air Academy Senior D
    John Sims Air Academy Senior M
    Vijah Singh Montrose Senior F
    Eric Spangler Centaurus Sophomore D
    Cruz Valdez Skyline Junior F
    Grant Webster Niwot Senior M
    Peter White Steamboat Springs Senior M/F

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    Player of the year: Ethan Coit, Salida

    First Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Brooks Benson Kent Denver Senior D
    Ethan Coit Salida Senior M
    Joseph Colarelli Fountain Valley Senior M
    Cameron Doody Faith Christian Senior D
    Clark Gebhart Colorado Academy Senior D
    Titus Grant The Classical Academy Freshman M
    Ulises Gutierrez Bruce Randolph Senior F
    Robby Jacobs The Classical Academy Sophomore F
    James Larivee The Classical Academy Senior M
    Sawyer Lincoln Manitou Springs Sophomore M/F
    JJ Myers Colorado Academy Senior F
    Andrew Peck The Classical Academy Senior M
    Conner Stephens C.S. Christian Senior D
    Jack Thomas Colorado Academy Senior GK
    Robert White Colorado Academy Senior M

  • Notebook: 5A basketball Selection Show set for Sunday

    (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)
    (Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

    This season’s 5A basketball Selection Show is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at the WMDC Building just behind the Red Lion Hotel in Aurora.

    The Selection Show will reveal the 5A girls and boys tournament brackets on a team-by-team and region-by-region basis. The room can accommodate 150 people, though the Selection Show will also be shown on the NFHS Network. Additionally, the brackets will be concurrently unveiled on CHSAANow.com.

    Coaches, players and fans are welcome to attend the event.

    The 4A brackets will be posted immediately following this event, which should end around 5 p.m.

    Wheat Ridge announces Reardon as new coach

    In a release sent over email on Tuesday, Wheat Ridge officially announced that former Poudre coach Dan Reardon will head the Farmers’ football program.

    Reardon, 5-14 over the past two seasons at Poudre, has a long history of coaching. Included was a seven-year stint at Ursuline High School in Ohio, where he was 68-26 and won three state championships. From 2007-10, Reardon’s teams went 53-6. This past year, Ursuline, a private catholic school, had an enrollment of 507 kids.

    “Dan Reardon is a man of quality character and quality football knowledge and experience,” Wheat Ridge said in a statement. “He is an excellent role model that will help develop character and leadership with our students and athletes.  He will be an asset to Wheat Ridge High School.”

    Reardon replaces Reid Kahl, who had a very successful nine seasons at the school, including 4A championships in 2006 and 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2010. Kahl was 85-24.

    Football adds targeting rule

    Dangerous hits will be further penalized in high school football.

    The NFHS last week added a targeting rule, meaning hits that take “aim and (intiate) contact to an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders,” will be penalized by a 15-yard penalty.

    The change was made “in an effort to reduce contact above the shoulders and lessen the risk of injury,” according to a release from the NFHS.

    The NFHS rules committee also added the following definition of a defenseless player: “A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.”

    Additionally, the committee limited the number of players that can line up on each side of the kicker during a kickoff, which should help avoid injury — especially in onside kick situations.

    Short stuff

    • Awards from this past weekend’s state swim meets: Ralston Valley’s Maddie Myers was named 5A swimmer of the year; Douglas County/Castle View’s Kaitlin Costello was named diver of the year; Regis Jesuit’s Nick Frasersmith was name swim coach of the year; Regis Jesuit’s Kim Hagger was named dive coach of the year. In 4A, Niwot’s Marjorie Driscoll was named swimmer of the year; St. Mary’s Academy’s Alexa Beckwith was named diver of the year; Manitou Springs’ Roy Chaney was named swim coach of the year; St. Mary’s Academy’s Lisa Kafka was named dive coach of the year.
    • A slight rule change in boys and girls soccer requires a goalkeeper to leave the field when they are injured and the referee has stopped the clock. Previously, an injured player in the field was required to leave when injured and the referee had stopped the clock, but goalkeepers were not.
    • Jefferson County has started a new Facebook page encouraging good sportsmanship.

     

  • Photo gallery: Boys soccer’s state championships

    COMMERCE CITY — Boys soccer awarded its championship trophies on Saturday. Here are photos from the day.

  • Pine Creek wins 5A boys soccer in two overtimes

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    COMMERCE CITY — Pine Creek Senior Jayvier Morales scored his first goal of the season during the second overtime in the state title game.

    “I was just crossing it in to whoever was in the box, and the keeper tipped it in,” Morales said. “It was complete luck, but I’ll take it.”

    In Pine Creek’s first state championship appearance, the Eagles earned title honors after outlasting No. 1 Rock Canyon 1-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    Stellar defense from both teams characterized the first half of play. However, Rock Canyon did get more chances offensively. At the beginning of the game, Rock Canyon had two separate free kicks from either corner of the 18 yard box. The teams went battle back-and-forth in the midfield, but Rock Canyon had far greater offensive possession.

    Senior Pine Creek keeper David Meyer played an enormous role in keeping the game scoreless.

    “Our team can play with a lot of confidence when we’re not giving up many goals,” coach Ben Corley said. “Five total goals (Meyer let in) for the whole season — that’s pretty darn good.”

    Meyer had seven saves for Pine Creek in the championship game.

    “(Meyer) means the world to us,” Morales said. “He’s kept us in games so many times. We wouldn’t have made it here without him. He’s the best keeper in Pine Creek’s history.”

    The second half of the game was much of the same — a defensive gridlock. Both teams couldn’t capitalize on scoring chances. It took two overtimes until a goal found the back of the net.

    “These guys (Pine Creek) have shown the maturity to battle through it until the goal comes,” Corey said. “It’s a tough to lose on a ball like that, but it was one of those defensive battles where something was going to give.”

    Pine Creek Rock Canyon boys soccer 5A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    Pine Creek had to win its last two games in extra minutes. In the semis, Alex Cullen punched Pine Creek’s ticket to its first championship game with a golden goal in 7:29 of overtime.

    “Our team can play with a lot of confidence when we’re not giving up many goals,” Corey said. “Dave had to come up huge in the Boulder game, but tonight Zach Peterschmidt and Matt Ernst had dominant performances, tonight (Meyer) didn’t have to make as dramatic saves. He’s been that rock player back there that gives the field players confidence.”

    This Pine Creek squad has grown immensely throughout the season in part to the veteran’s on the team.

    “We have a lot of seniors on this team. at the beginning of the season our theme was ‘kaisen,’ (meaning) one step at a time. We talk about the little inches, and for a lot of these guys it started years ago.”

  • Late goal lifts Cheyenne Mountain to 4A boys soccer crown

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    COMMERCE CITY — Forward Christian Nehme knew his team would win the state title after he blasted in a goal from eight yards with 3:59 remaining.

    “As soon as the ball went back into the net,” Nehme said, “I realized we were going to win.”

    Nehme and Cheyenne Mountain were crowned Class 4A boys soccer state champions after beating Pikes Peak league rival Air Academy 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

    “We knew we could hang with them,” Cheyenne Mountain coach Tomas Martinez said. “ We just needed to weather their storms.”

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    Cheyenne Mountain and Air Academy each played tough defense throughout the first 38 minutes. After 25 minutes, Air Academy led Cheyenne Mountain with three in shots on goal to one. But the offensive pressure shifted in Cheyenne Mountain’s favor with around 20 minutes left when John Herd got his legs taken out from underneath him, and was fouled. Herd took the shot from the top of the 18, but it sailed over the top right corner with 12 minutes left in the half.

    Herd made sure his very next shot found the back of the net. With 2:18 left in the first half, he scored on a left-footed strike at the back-right corner past Air Academy goalkeeper Matthew Pipan from 15 yards. Herd’s goal put Cheyenne Mountain up 1-0 before the whistle for halftime.

    The goal was Herd’s second goal of the tournament, and 13th of the season — tying midfielder David McDermed for the team-high. Coming into Saturday’s game, Pippan had allowed just one goal in the state tournament.

    Air Academy applied a ton of offensive pressure in the second half. Their pesky offense frustrated Cheyenne Mountain’s defense. Defender Doug Quirk got a yellow card with 17 minutes after arguing a call with an official that an Air Academy’s forward pushed Cheyenne Mountain’s goalie.

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    Alex Granados ended Air Academy’s drought by placing a penalty shot in the bottom-right corner past Cheyenne Academy goalkeeper Erich Frey with 6:09 remaining.

    After that, Nehme said, “We just told our back line, and our team, that we’re not losing our heads. ‘In the next six minutes we’re going to get one — it’s ours.’ We did just that.”

    Nehme responded with a goal of his own, and Cheyenne Mountain ran out the clock to earn their first 4A state title since 1995.

    “I didn’t even think about anything, I told myself to just go to goal,” Nehme said. “I went behind two defenders and put it on frame. I don’t even know how I did it, I’m just so thankful.”

    On Oct. 9, Air Academy won an overtime thriller at Cheyenne Mountain 4-3. Herd and Nehme each scored a goal in that contest as well.

    “I told the guys we only need to be better than them today, and that’s all that matter,” Martinez said. “They can say they dominated possession, or everybody outplayed us, but it doesn’t matter. We got the better score today, and we have a great group of kids.”

    Cheyenne Mountain Air Academy Boys Soccer 4A state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

  • Colorado Academy caps unbeaten season with 3A boys soccer title

    The Classical Academy Colorado Academy 3A boys soccer state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    COMMERCE CITY — Over the past two seasons, Colorado Academy has accumulated a combined record of 38-0-2. And, at the end of the 2013 season, the Mustangs found themselves in a familiar place.

    Colorado Academy won its second-consecutive Class 3A soccer state championship title at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, defeating The Classical Academy 4-2 on Saturday.

    Both teams came into the game with offensive intensity. The Classical Academy freshman Titus Grant opened up the scoring with a breakaway goal in the fourth minute. Colorado Academy had allowed two goals through 19 games this season before Grant’s score.

    One minute later, Colorado Academy forward Robert Wright slotted-in a shot that rebounded off of Classical Academy keeper Micah Mesward to tie it up 1-1. Wright continued his dominance in the half by placing another shot in the right side of the net from five yards giving Colorado Academy the 2-1 lead.

    The Classical Academy Colorado Academy 3A boys soccer state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    “Throughout this entire season we’ve had trouble scoring the ball,” Wright said. “Our defense has really held us in all these games. We have a fantastic keeper in Jack Thomas. So (Saturday) we felt like this was our time to brings some goals onto the table — and we we’re able to capitalize.”

    The ball hit the nylon once again when Colorado Academy senior J.J. Meyers snuck a shot past Mesward on a breakaway from inside the five-yard box. With that goal, the striker extended his goal total to 14 — tops among Colorado Academy players.

    Colorado Academy led The Classical Academy 3-1 at half.

    After 15 minutes of battling back-and-forth to open the second half, The Classical Academy added another goal off the foot of Grant. The forward punched in a ball that rolled out of Colorado Academy’s keeper Jack Thomas’ hands.

    In the 77th minute, Colorado Academy’s Alex Clinkscales extend his team’s lead 4-2 by finishing a volley from five yards out off a cross from the left wing. The Classical Academy couldn’t battle back, and Colorado Academy took home the title.

    The Classical Academy Colorado Academy 3A boys soccer state
    More photos. (Pam Wagner)

    “It’s all down to my brothers on my team,” Wright said. “It’s been unbelievable, I can’t put words to it. Its been a while since I’ve lost, so all day today I have been thinking how horrible it would be to go out on that note.”

    Coach Gabe Bernstein finishes his first season as the coach for Colorado Academy at 19-0-1.

    “I counted a lot on our staff,” Bernstein said. “I also counted on my senior boys who have been here (in the title game), they knew what to expect and I think it was a matter of executing our game plan.”

  • Boys soccer roundup: Pine Creek downs defending champ Boulder in OT

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — Alex Cullen sent Pine Creek to its first boys soccer state championship game in school history with a golden goal 7:29 into overtime.

    The senior corralled a loose ball after a Pine Creek free kick attempt and fired a shot from 20 yards out. It was deflected multiple times on the way to the net, and when it hit the twine, it meant No. 4 Pine Creek had knocked out No. 9 Boulder, the defending Class 5A champion, with a 1-0 victory.

    It was Cullen’s sixth goal this season, and the first goal Boulder had surrendered in 11 games. The last also came in overtime, in a 1-0 loss to Fairview on Sept. 26.

    Pine Creek (16-1-2) spent a good portion of the game on the shoulders of keeper David Meyer, who made five saves, a number of them brilliant. Included was an early one-on-one stop against Boulder star Mason Douillard, and an acrobatic, diving defense of the net later off a corner kick.

    The Eagles will face Rock Canyon in the championship. (See the full 5A bracket.)

    The Jaguars, making their third appearance in a state title game in school history, got a goal from Andrew Greiner with 30:44 remaining in the game. Greiner made a great transfer on a free kick attempt and beat the keeper to his left.

    Rock Canyon also advanced to the championship games in 2009 (a loss in 4A) and 2008 (winning 4A).

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    (Bud Ozzello/CHSAANow.com)
    (Bud Ozzello/CHSAANow.com)

    Top-seeded Air Academy held a slim 1-0 lead at halftime before exploding for three goals in the second frame to claim a 4-0 win over No. 5 Ponderosa in the first 4A semifinal.

    Air Academy got two goals from Gabriel Stuger, Alex Granados and Austin Dewing.

    The win means the Kadets will play in a championship game for the sixth time in school history. Air Academy won championships in 2010 (4A) and 1990 (5A).

    Air Academy will face third-seeded Cheyenne Mountain, a Pikes Peak league rival, following the Indians’ 1-0 win over No. 7 Evergreen. (See the full 4A bracket.)

    Cheyenne Mountain scored with nine minutes to play and will play in the title game for the third time in school history. The Indians won championship in 1995 (3A) and 1994 (4A/1A).

    Air Academy beat Cheyenne Mountain 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 1.

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    (Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)
    (Jenn Roberts-Uhlig/CHSAANow.com)

    No. 1 Colorado Academy scored late in the second half to beat No. 5 Kent Denver and move on in the 3A semifinal with a 1-0 win.

    The Mustangs will make their fifth appearance in a title game. They won championships in 2012, 1999 and 1998.

    On the opposing side will be No. 3 The Classical Academy. The Titans beat No. 2 Salida 1-0 after a first-half goal held up. (See the full 3A bracket.)

    The two finalists have not played this season.