Emily Mueller, center, a senior at The Classical Academy, is one of the leaders for a Titans team expected to compete for the Class 4A state title this season.
File photo by Ray Chen
If any evidence is needed regarding the presence the Colorado Springs-metro area carries in Class 4A girls soccer, look no further than the previous four years.
After Wheat Ridge and Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) controlled 4A from 2009-11, an Air Academy title in 2012 turned the tide back for the Springs area. After the Kadets won it all, Cheyenne Mountain followed with three consecutive championships, defeating Monument's Lewis-Palmer in a shootout a year ago.
Four teams –
Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs),
Lewis-Palmer (Monument),
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) and
Air Academy – were all ranked in the top 10 when the CHSAANow.com preseason poll was released for the 2016 spring season.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic. Last year two Colorado Springs teams were playing for the 4A state final. That was a great moment for Colorado Springs soccer," The Classical Academy coach Blake Galvin said. "I think over the years the level of soccer here has really pumped up. I think some great things are going on here, and as a whole I think all the coaches down here, we're working hard and doing great things."
The Titans are more than ready to try and make their move to the top this season after coming up short in recent years. TCA has not won a state title since 2011, when it claimed the 3A crown. In 2013 and 2014 the Titans made it back to the 3A championship game only to lose by one goal both times.
Last season, the team's first in 4A, The Classical Academy was undefeated during the regular season but was upset in the second round by 18th-seeded Standley Lake (Westminster).
"There have been a couple of times where I have mentioned some things that happened in that specific game, and the entire group just groans when we talk about that," Galvin said. "I think there is definite motivation there and yet I think that it's in the right perspective that that was last year and this is this year. We have to move forward. We can't dwell on it."
The pieces are in place to make another run. Leading scorer
Hannah Burgo (20 goals as a sophomore) returns, along with
Alison Smith (12 goals as a freshman). The program didn't graduate any starters, though senior Mikayla Murphy is dealing with an off-season knee injury.
The back line is perhaps where the team's biggest strength lies. Seniors
Aleesa Muir,
Emily Mueller and
Anna Thompson are the team's three captains, providing protection for sophomore goalkeeper
Raeann Queener.
"They're experienced. All three of them have played in two state championship games, and that level of experience really is outstanding," Galvin said. "I'm really, really pleased with the leadership they bring. They provide a great foundation from a defensive perspective."
The Classical Academy is once again opening the season with a Springs-area gauntlet in non-league play. The Titans battled Air Academy to a scoreless draw in the opener, and edged Lewis-Palmer 1-0 behind a goal from Smith.
Cheyenne Mountain and
Palmer Ridge (Monument) await at the end of the month, a non-league schedule that will get the team ready for play in the CS Metro League and beyond.
"We set the bar really, really high for ourselves. What that means with everybody else in games, who knows at this point," Galvin said. "Absolutely we want to make a very deep run in the playoffs if at all possible, but really the goal is to come out and play our very best in every single game."
In Class 5A,
Grandview (Aurora) returns three all-state players from its state championship team.
Colorado Academy (Denver) has won two 3A titles in a row but graduated Player of the Year Marin McCoy; in 2A,
Vail Mountain captured the inaugural title in the classification last May. Tess Johnson was Player of the Year as a freshman.
Class 5A
Defending State Champion: Grandview
Returning All-State Players: Makena Bambei, Sr.,,
Broomfield (1st team);
Kristin Barbour, Sr.,
Monarch (Louisville) (2nd team);
Tatum Barton, Sr.,
Columbine (Littleton) (1st team);
Kelcey Cavarra, Sr., Columbine (2nd team);
Mandi Duggan, Sr., Grandview (2nd team);
Reece Hummel, Sr.,
Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) (2nd team);
Alyssa Kaiser, Sr.,
Ralston Valley (Arvada) (2nd team);
Caeley Lordemann, Sr.,
Greeley West (2nd team);
Jayne Lydiatt, Jr., Pine Creek (2nd team);
Nicole Lyubenko, Jr., Grandview (1st team);
Julie Mackin, Sr.,
Castle View (Castle Rock) (2nd team);
Jade Odom, Jr., Pine Creek (2nd team);
Taylor Parker, Jr., Grandview (1st team);
Mallory Pugh, Sr.,
Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) (1st team);
Ally Schlegel, So.,
Chaparral (Parker) (2nd team);
Michaela Stark, Sr., Broomfield (1st team);
Zoe Zinis, Sr., Broomfield (1st team).
Class 4A
Defending State Champion: Cheyenne Mountain
Returning All-State Players: Brianna Alger, Jr., Lewis-Palmer (1st team);
Emily Cope, Sr.,
Battle Mountain (Edwards) (2nd team);
Katie Davis, Sr.,
Pueblo Centennial (2nd team);
Lauren Jones, Jr., Cheyenne Mountain (1st team);
Sarah Lyons, Sr., Lewis-Palmer (1st team); Aleesa Muir, Sr., The Classical Academy (1st team);
Alexandra Nillen, Jr.,
Wheat Ridge (1st team);
Zoe Peterson, Sr.,
Evergreen (1st team);
Sophia Weiner, Jr., Evergreen (1st team);
Margaret Zimmerman, So.,
Windsor (2nd team).
Class 3A
Defending State Champion: Colorado Academy
Returning All-State Players: Annalys Hanna, Jr.,
Middle Park (Granby) (2nd team);
Logan Hays, Sr.,
Estes Park (2nd team); Alexis Loera, Jr.,
The Academy (Westminster) (1st team);
McKenna Monk, Jr.,
Fountain Valley (Colorado Springs);
Audrey Payne, Sr.,
Kent Denver (Englewood) (1st team);
Scooter Ross, So.,
St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) (2nd team).
Class 2A
Defending State Champion: Vail Mountain
Returning All-State Players: Alyssa Clayton, Jr.,
Rye (HM); Liv Cramer, So.,
Dawson School (Lafayette) (1st team); Emma Hall, So., Vail Mountain (HM); Tess Johnson, Soph., Vail Mountain (1st team);
Addison Kanon, Sr.,
Cornerstone Christian (Westminster) (HM); Brie Karlstrum, Jr.,
Evangelical Christian (Colorado Springs) (HM); Maggie Kirkpatrick, Jr., Evangelical Christian (1st team);
Miranda Kortenhoeven, So.,
Denver Christian (1st team); April Mann, Jr., Evangelical Christian (HM); Olivia Manula, So., Vail Mountain (HM);
Samantha O'Brien, So.,
Clear Creek (Evergreen) (1st team).
