MaxPreps 2013 Soccer Early Contenders: Battle Mountain boys

The word "magical" seems to be the most popular one used to describe what the Battle Mountain (Edwards, Colo.) boys soccer team accomplished last season. Sportswriters and coaches alike just keep throwing that word out there.

When you take a look at the entire list of accomplishments, it seems appropriate. The Huskies won the CHSAA 4A title with a flawless 20-0 record, eliminated the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds as a No. 6 and finished with a No. 21 national ranking by MaxPreps, not to mention an honorable mention from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Not bad for a program that hails from the mountainous part of the state where skiing is king, and considering all of the quality squads in the metro Denver area.

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Now the Huskies have to find a way to keep the magic going. Ten seniors who played in the state championship (a 4-2 penalty kicks win over Palmer Ridge after a scoreless draw in the snow) have moved on, yet the Huskies plan to rely on tradition and an undefeated JV team as they attempt to keep the top hat and cape on. They are still a national title Early Contender, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and adidas.

"The run in 2012 was magical for our team, for the community and for our school. This is a new season, with new players and with a new story to write. Bring it on," said longtime coach David Cope, whose team forged a 65-6 scoring margin. "We do bring back three of our better starters from last year and a bunch of kids who are yearning to prove themselves."

The Huskies reaching the playoffs is as predictable as January blizzards dumping fluffy snow in the Rocky Mountains. They've qualified every year since 1998 and recently have taken 4A Western Slope titles in 2004-07 and 2010-12.

In order to add to that list, Battle Mountain will need to replace the production of Joe LyBarger, the Conference Player of the Year and the team's leading scorer (24 goals, 13 assists). Also gone is starting goalkeeper Christian Espinoza (an all-state performer).

But the cupboard is hardly bare. The Huskies have a proven track record of developing players who slide into the varsity life, and four-year starer and all-state performer Roberto Diaz (15 goals, 13 assists) is more than capable of becoming the formidable force that leads the team. Second-team all-state player Alex Trujillo (nine goals, 15 assists) is also back along with three-year starter Brandon Osorio.

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Local outlook: "Battle Mountain has built a serious program under David Cope. It really started to click with 1998 and the first playoff appearance. He has built a tremendous program by developing excellent players who come through the JV program and fall in seamlessly. So the success continues. They had a very rich Class of 2013 that built and built towards that incredible season, which was the ride of a lifetime as a reporter. People think they will be a bit down, that they will not be elite at a state level. Yet history indicates that writing them off in the Western Slope and state playoffs might be a bad idea."
- Chris Freud, Sports Editor at the Vail Daily
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Enrollment: 750 (appox.)

Athletic director: Ryan McCay

2012 finish: 20-0, CHSAA 4A title (NSCAA honorable mention, No. 21 national ranking by MaxPreps)

Head coach: David Cope

Years at school: 23 (21 as boys head coach). Also 7 years as girls coach

Career record: 196 boys wins (96-18-6 since Oct. 21, 2005). Also 111 girls wins.

Notable team achievements: State playoffs qualifier every year since 1997, 2012 CHSAA 4A state champions, Western Slope League champions 2004-07 and 2010-12, state quarterfinalists 2004-05 and 2011.

Notable soccer alumni: Kyle Moore (Denver University)

Notable non-soccer facts about school: Olympic skiers Toby Dawson (2006 moguls, bronze) and Sarah Schleper (four-time competitor) went to Battle Mountain.
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Key Player Losses: 

GK Christian Espinoza (First Team All-State)



D Erick Briones (All Region)

MF Diego Rodriguez (Captain)

F Joe LyBarger (Conference Player of the Year, leading scorer)

Key Returners:

Jr. D Brandon Osorio (three-year starter)

Sr. D/MF Roberto Diaz (First Team All-State, four-year starter, on ballot for High School All-American Game)



Sr. M Alex Trujillo (Second Team All-State, Team leader in assists)

Rising Contributors:

So. GK Donnie Leavitt (backup goalkeeper last season)

Sr. F Alexis Robles (leading JV scorer last year)

Sr. M Kevan Aubel (JV captain in 2012)

Sr. M Ryan Wood



Jr. M Tony Luevanos
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Toughest game: Montrose was the closest team to beating Battle Mountain in the regular season last year, and league foe Summit (Frisco) is also a quality squad, falling 3-1 and 2-0 to the Huskies. A rivalry with league rival Steamboat (Steamboat Springs) is always spirited as well., though Battle Mountain handled the Sailors easily last season.

Question Marks: How will the Huskies react to being the defending champs? Also, can they bounce back from losing their goalkeeper, top defender and leading scorer with a successful group of JV players?

National Look: Colorado has produced two players who compete on the U-20 national team, and the state features a robust number of quality teams, especially in the Denver area. Don't let the cold winter weather fool you: Colorado can play.

In Summary: "Last year as a No. 6 seed, despite an undefeated regular season, we snuck up on some teams. This year everybody will know about the Huskies from Edwards, and we will have to prove ourselves worthy of a higher seed."
- Head coach David Cope
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