Chance at redemption driving Smoky Hill in Colorado boys soccer playoffs

If the 2014 version of the Class 5A state soccer tournament feels like a bit of déjà vu for the Smoky Hill (Aurora) boys soccer team, there is a good reason for that.

The Buffaloes are one of four teams remaining in the field after knocking off defending state champion Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) 4-1 in the quarterfinals last Saturday. Smoky Hill had to do the exact same thing in the 2012 quarterfinals on its way to the state title game.

The team's opponent in the championship that year? The very same Boulder squad that Smoky Hill finds itself matched up against in Wednesday's semifinals at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.

"We've been focused on our game and what we've need to do to get ready. Good or bad, we haven't spent a lot of time looking at the brackets," Buffaloes coach Kerstan Mullan said. "Our motto is, ‘Who is standing in our way today?' "

Second-seeded Smoky Hill (16-2) faces No. 3 Boulder (14-1-3) at 7 p.m. in the second semifinal. Smoky Hill is playing the role of the outsider as the only non-Front Range League team remaining. No. 8 Fairview (Boulder) (13-5) meets No. 12 Broomfield (11-4-3) in the other semifinal.

The winners face off for the championship at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

"Every coach likes to say we're in one of the toughest leagues. I can guarantee you obviously the Front Range League is saying ‘we're one of the toughest leagues' and it's hard to argue with that claim at this point," Mullan said. "But I also think in some ways that's helpful for us.

"We haven't gone round-robin like those teams have. I think that gives us an advantage in terms of that piece."

This season has been one of redemption for Smoky Hill and its 12 seniors, all of whom were on the roster when the Buffaloes lost to Boulder 3-1 in 2012. Last fall Smoky Hill entered the state tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, only to fall to Fort Collins in the second round.

Had the Buffaloes won, they would have faced Boulder in the quarterfinals. The Panthers fell to Pine Creek in the semifinals.

"I can't say enough about (Boulder coach) Hardy (Kalisher). He is amazing and his teams are always ready and seem to be more ready in the playoffs than they are at any other point in the year, which is exactly what you want as a coach," Mullan said. "Obviously Boulder for us is an emotional match."

Smoky Hill has been an offensive juggernaut, scoring 74 goals on the season. Senior Kevin Del Mazo has 18 goals and senior Walter Prince has added 13. Andrew Franceschi has nine shutouts in goal.

Since a season-opening loss to Smoky Hill, Boulder has been a steady force. The team has won 11 games in a row, including a 3-0 victory against Chatfield (Littleton) in the quarterfinals. Junior Leroy Alphonse leads the team with eight goals and junior Brian Castruita has six. Senior Leo Huettel has allowed only 10 goals.

The Panthers won a tightly contested Front Range with victories against both opponents in the other semifinal. Fairview is coming off a 3-2 victory against top-seeded Rock Canyon behind two goals from senior Casey Munsch. The team has won nine in a row, with Munsch and Luis Flores combining for 18 goals on the season.

Broomfield owns a 1-0 victory over the Knights earlier in the season. The Eagles are in their first season at the 5A level and advanced to the 4A quarterfinals a year ago before falling to Evergreen.

Broomfield outscored its three postseason opponents 9-0, and four players scored in a rout of No. 4 Doherty (Colorado Springs) in the quarterfinals. Junior Michael Genge made four saves to earn the shutout.

Class 4A

The storylines for the final four teams in the 4A bracket are similarly intriguing.

Two of the four teams were state runners-up a year ago, with Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) falling to Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) in the 4A finale and The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) losing to Colorado Academy (Denver) in 3A.

Ponderosa (Parker) was a state semifinalist in 4A, and D'Evelyn (Denver) is new to this stage, having never advanced to the semis in the school's history.

That should make Wednesday's semifinals at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker all the more interesting. Top-seeded Air Academy (18-0) is the favorite and draws No. 4 D'Evelyn (16-2) at 5 p.m.; No. 2 TCA (18-0) faces No. 6 Ponderosa (13-5) at 7 p.m. The 4A title game is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dick's.

It could be argued that Air Academy has been the most dominant team in the state, regardless of classification, this fall. The Kadets have outscored opponents 94-4 and are coming off a 1-0 shutout of Littleton.

Senior Austin Dewing has knocked home 31 goals and assisted on 22 others, and seven players have at least five goals. Goalkeeper Matt Pipan has posted 15 shutouts.

"They're kind of on a mission this year," D'Evelyn coach Paul Moline said. "But we're not going to lay down. We're going to come out and try to give them the best game we possibly can. We're not going to try to change anything we do; hopefully we can make them adapt to what we have."

The Jaguars are coming off a thrilling shootout victory against Niwot in the quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Chris Linden recorded two key saves in the shootout and Sam Van Sickle punched in the winning kick for the 4-3 edge.

"We have a good core of seniors who were all freshmen my second year of coaching the boys. We were really young, we had just one senior when these guys were freshmen," Moline said. "It's been a progression with this group. Now they're all seniors and it's been a really good experience for them. They've kind of all grown together."

D'Evelyn has won eight games by a single goal, not including the shootout victory. Sophomore Wesley Tedstrom leads the team with 10 goals, and Linden has allowed only 12 goals.

"His strongest asset is that he doesn't give up a lot of rebounds," Moline said. "He always talks about the team in front of him. He's humble and very grounded."

In its first year at 4A, The Classical Academy has had its way with the competition. The Titans have outscored opponents 91-11 behind a trio of sophomore sensations. Titus Grant leads the way with 29 goals, and Jaden Borja and Jeremy Baldes have combined for 30 more scores.

Ponderosa has allowed only one goal in the postseason. Thomas Green has a team-leading 12 goals for the Mustangs, which made another strong run a year ago before falling to Air Academy in the semifinals.

Class 3A

The 3A semifinals have a familiar feel, with three of the teams having been in the same position a year ago.

Top-seeded Kent Denver (Englewood) (17-1) takes on Denver Christian (14-1-3), the newcomer to the group, in the first semifinal at 5 p.m. at All-City Stadium. Two-time defending state champion Colorado Academy (Denver) (14-4) faces Salida (15-3) in the other matchup. The 3A championship is at 10:30 a.m. at Dick's.

Since losing its opener, Kent Denver has won 17 in a row. Senior Greer Solarte and sophomore Max Gottesfeld each have 12 goals.

After a rough start, fourth-seeded Denver Christian has been on a roll. Senior Levi Viss and sophomore Dillon Kiley have 11 goals each for the Crusaders.

In the other semifinal, the Mustangs lost two of their first four games before rebounding. Senior Ben Maffei leads the team with 16 goals and Alex Clinkscales has 11.

Salida, which last won a state title in 2004, scored 61 goals this fall. Senior Dustin Linza has a team-leading 17, junior Nick Thayer scored 15 and sophomore Evan Coit added 13.