COLORADO SPRINGS — Soccer can sometimes be a cruel sport, but third-seeded Battle
Mountain only felt euphoria in the aftermath of its 2-0 Class 4A state championship win over No.
1 Northfield on Saturday afternoon.
Before the two squads faced off at Weidner Field, Northfield hadn’t lost a single game and only
trailed in one. The Huskies ended that streak when it mattered most. They’ve been chasing that
crown since their last one in 2012, having since experienced two heartbreaks with runner-up
finishes in 2016 and 2022.
Last year, the Nighthawks handed them a 3-0 loss in the title game.
“Losing in the state championship is tough,” junior keeper Ezequiel Alvarez said. “All year, we
were talking. Our group chat and our Snapchat (message) was, ‘Run it back.’ We were talking
about winning 4A this year, and it’d be better if we beat Northfield, which ended up happening.”
The Battle Mountain defense built up a brick wall against the Nighthawks the entire game, and
successfully held off a vicious attack that constantly tested its resolve. The Huskies blocked
each and every good look that the defending state champions sent toward the goal, but they
never let the Nighthawks break through.
Coming into the contest, the Nighthawks boasted a 56-1-1 record through three seasons, and
displayed that tenacity by controlling possession for the grand majority of the game. Battle
Mountain just needed a few good looks and a little bit of good fortune.
“We recognize that we just beat one of the great high school teams that we’ve seen in the last
couple of years,” head coach David Cope said. “The run that they’ve had, it’s been incredible.
Hats off to Northfield. I mean, they set the standard, and we tried to reach it. To shut that team
out, it’s a great accomplishment. We’re so happy for the boys.”
The Huskies first broke through on a score from senior midfielder Leo Martinez in the 19th
minute, and then continued to quell the offensive push from Northfield. Cooper Skidmore’s goal
in the 71st minute only served to bury the Nighthawks even further.
They hope to carry the momentum into the following season, but face a tall task as they bid
farewell to 11 seniors.
“Getting to the final is not something that happens ordinarily,” Cope said. “You need some
things to go your way, but I thought we had four dominant performances coming into today. And
then today we had to ride our luck a little bit and we did. That’s what a final is all about.”