VIDEO: Top soccer goal from 75 yards
It's been more than a decade since the
Regis Jesuit (Aurora) boys soccer team played for a state championship.
So, when the Class 5A state title game kicks off Friday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, the moment will be that much more special for the Raiders and their fans. The team's impressive ride through 2019 continues for one more game when sixth-seeded Regis Jesuit goes up against a
Broomfield program that has made Dick's a second home in recent years.
The No. 9 Eagles (16-2-1) will be playing for the 5A crown for the fifth time in six seasons and will be looking to add to its state-leading seven state titles in the sport. Raiders coach Rick Wolf joked that at a coaches meeting last week he saw Broomfield coach Jim Davidson's jacket and it had about 25 stars on it.
"I'm excited to be on the same sideline as him," Wolf said of Davidson. "Our programs have not played each other since I've been here for 17 years, and maybe before that. It's an honor to be on the sideline with him and to coach against him."
Regis Jesuit (16-1-2) earned its way into the championship game with a hard-fought 1-0 victory Wednesday over a Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) team that had already upset No. 2 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) and No. 7 Grandview (Aurora). The Raiders didn't get on the board until the 65th minute, when
Casey McCloskey sent a rebound past Eagles goalkeeper Eli Young.
Casey McCloskey, Regis Jesuit
File photo by Tim Bourke
It was the fourth 1-0 victory for the team this season, which included a stretch of three such games during a four-game span in late October – one of which came against the same Pine Creek team.
The Raiders reached the quarterfinals in 2011 during a 12-win season, but haven't come close to this point since they lost to Denver East in two overtimes in the 2008 title game. The program won its last state title back in 1996.
"It's the leadership with the boys. The confidence those guys have instilled within our entire program has really pushed us this season and driven us to where we are right now," Wolf said. "We're a very technical team, more technical than I would say we've been in the past, and that, coupled with their determination and confidence, they know they're going to win. That's the attitude they go into games with, and it's been a lot of fun."
Broomfield made it back to Dick's on the strength of a 2-1 overtime victory over Front Range League rival Boulder on Wednesday night.
Zane Jacobson found the back of the net four minutes into overtime, sending the Eagles past a league rival for the third consecutive postseason game.
Broomfield went to a shootout in its previous two contests to defeat Fairview (Boulder) and top-seeded Legacy (Broomfield).
"The whole season my team has just told me to shoot, shoot, shoot, and see what happens," Jacobson said after the game. "I took a chance and it went in."
Senior
Mawolo Easton leads Broomfield with 19 goals.
Gustavo Gutierrez has added 15 goals and 14 assists, including the team's first score in the semifinals. Senior keeper
Jack Stoecker came up with some big saves against the Panthers.
Wolf said his players are well aware of Broomfield's history, and are ready to embrace the opportunity.
"They know how good Broomfield has been in the past, they watch these state finals year in and year out," Wolf said. "They're excited as well to go up against the best."
Friday's game is just the beginning of a busy state weekend. The 2019 season will wrap up Saturday with three more state championship games.
Class 4A
No. 3 Skyview (Thornton) (17-0-2) vs. No. 5 Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) (15-4), 4 p.m., SaturdayThe 4A title game pits a grizzled state veteran against a newcomer eager to make its mark while playing for its first state championship.
Two-time defending champion Air Academy is back at Dick's for the third year in a row and fifth time in seven years. The Kadets draw a Skyview team that has been on the rise over the past five years, winning 17 games in consecutive seasons.
Jared Ramos, Skyview
File photo by Kevin Prickett
Air Academy, which has enjoyed two perfect seasons since 2014, has been on a roll since mid-October. The Kadets gained a measure of revenge in Wednesday's semifinals, rallying to defeat 5A/4A Pikes Peak rival Lewis-Palmer (Monument) 2-1 in Aurora. The Rangers handed Air Academy a loss on Oct. 11 and went on to win the league title, but
Adin Schwenke and
Mason Shandy scored second-half goals Wednesday to send the Kadets back to Commerce City.
Senior
Thaddaeus Dewing has enjoyed a monster season with 28 goals and 16 assists for 72 points overall. Schwenke and
Kelton Hooker have 26 goals and 17 assists between them. Sophomore keeper
Travis Tygart Jr. has allowed only three goals through four postseason games.
Skyview was undefeated headed into last year's quarterfinal round, only to lose in a shootout to The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs). The Wolverines were unbeaten during the regular season this year, took down 2018 runner-up Denver North in the quarterfinals and then held off No. 2 Golden 1-0 in the semis.
Luis Reyes scored the game-winner against the Demons, and keeper
Brian Fierro stopped a late penalty kick to preserve the victory.
Senior
Jared Ramos leads the team with 23 goals to go with 10 assists, and Reyes has 21 goals and 10 assists. Senior
Roger Ibarra has a team-high 15 assists. Fierro has eight shutouts on the year.
The Wolverines have 14 seniors on the roster who have been a big part in helping to turn around a program that won a combined four games in 2011-12. Skyview was 3-11-1 in Justin Thomas' first year as head coach in 2012, but the team won 11 games the following year and a league title.
Class 3A
No. 2 Kent Denver (Englewood) (19-0) vs. No. 5 Roaring Fork (Carbondale) (15-2-1), 11 a.m., SaturdayThe 3A storyline isn't much different from the two biggest classifications. The championship game will be decided between a storied program in Kent Denver that has won four of the past five state titles, and a Roaring Fork program that has never won a championship.
The Sun Devils are the only undefeated team still playing in the state. A program that has outscored opponents 74-6 this season defeated Atlas Preparatory (Colorado Springs) 4-2 in the semifinals Wednesday in Denver. Kent Denver has defeated each of its 19 opponents this fall by at least two goals.
Seniors
Rawson Welch,
Max Hewitt and
Pace Billings had combined for 42 of the team's 70 goals going into the semis. Keeper
Joey Waldbaum has been just as dominant – the Sun Devils allowed only one goal in their first 12 games, and Wednesday was the first time an opponent managed multiple goals in a game.
Kent Denver has lost only three games over six seasons.
Roaring Fork has enjoyed consistent success under coach Nicholas Forbes, and the team has won at least 10 games in eight out of nine seasons, this year included. The Rams made the semifinals a year ago before losing in a shootout to Liberty Common (Fort Collins).
On Wednesday night the team took down top-seeded Salida 2-1 in overtime, getting a pair of goals from sophomore
Ross Barlow, who has a team-high 18 goals. Senior
Dylan Webster has added 14, and junior keeper
Noah Wheeless had posted three consecutive postseason shutouts before allowing a goal to Salida.
Class 2A
No. 4 Dawson School (Lafayette) (12-3-2) vs. No. 10 Ridgway (11-3-3), 1:30 p.m. SaturdayBoth Dawson School and Ridgway will be playing for its first state title, and only the second 2A championship in state history. A year ago Crested Butte won the inaugural 2A crown.
Rio Sueyoshi, Dawson School
File photo by Kevin Prickett
The Mustangs needed overtime to defeat Denver Christian 3-2 on Nov. 9.
Jonas Ricke,
Sam Freedman and
Nick Knobel scored goals in that contest – it came just a little more than two weeks after the two teams had played to a scoreless tie in the regular-season finale.
Ridgway is the lowest seeded team remaining in the state. The Demons, who are enjoyed their best season since landing the No. 6 seed in the 2017 3A state tournament, have defeated No. 7 Lotus School for Excellence (Aurora), defending state champion and No. 2 Crested Butte, and No. 3 Fountain Valley (Colorado Springs) by a combined 13-3 margin.
Ridgway dropped three games in a four-game stretch in late October, but has played its best soccer in the postseason. Senior
Robert Beserra's 39 goals pace the team, and junior
Jonah Kornbluh has a team-high 16 assists.
