Title rematch highlights upcoming month in Colorado boys soccer

It's much too early to get a clear picture of which boys soccer programs will rise to the top come playoff time.

That said, the first couple weeks of the season have already given the state some big games, along with a few teams showing some early-season sizzle. In Class 4A alone, defending state champion Air Academy dropped its opener to Evergreen 3-1. Runner-up The Classical Academy fell to 2013 champion Cheyenne Mountain by one goal on the same night.

A pair of 4A semifinalists last fall also clashed in the opener, with Ponderosa edging D'Evelyn; just a few days later though, the Mustangs were upended by Denver West, which got off to a 3-0 start this season with three consecutive shutouts.

More top-10 games are on the schedule for September – including a Class 3A title rematch between Kent Denver and Colorado Academy. The heart of league play also gets underway around the state. Here is a look at 10 games to watch this month in the three classifications:

Class 5A
Saturday, Sept. 12: Boulder at Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 4 p.m., Village Greens Park
After back-to-back victories against top-10 teams in the 5A ranks, Boulder has two more non-league matches before opening Front Range League play. One of those games comes against the Bruins, another ranked opponent. The Panthers dispatched Smoky Hill and Rock Canyon to open the season. The 5A runner-up last fall showcased its depth as six players have already scored goals.

Cherry Creek opened its season with a 1-1 tie with Pine Creek. Garrett Brown had five saves in net for the Bruins, who tied Boulder a year ago in the regular season.

Saturday, Sept. 19: Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) at Smoky Hill (Aurora), 11 a.m.
The top two seeds in the 5A state bracket last October are both expecting big things again in 2015. Smoky Hill got off to a rough start with losses to Boulder and Denver East, but rebounded with a big victory against Heritage. Junior Jacob Roldan had two assists in the victory for the 2014 semifinalists.

Rock Canyon was the top overall seed last fall before falling to Fairview in the quarterfinals. The team split its first two games.

Thursday, Sept. 24: Broomfield at Fairview (Boulder), 6:30 p.m.
This game is a rematch of a state semifinal between the two Front Range League squads, where Broomfield took a 2-1 victory on its way to the 5A championship.
 
While the Knights have yet to play a game this season, the team kicks off a three-game stretch in five days starting Sept. 8 with Pine Creek. Broomfield defeated Standley Lake and Adams City to open its title defense. Five players scored goals in the two victories.

Other games of note: Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) at Denver East, Sept. 11; Rangeview (Aurora) at Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch), Sept. 11; Heritage (Littleton) at Legend (Parker), Sept. 15; Far Northeast Warriors (Denver) at Denver West, Sept. 24.

Class 4A
Saturday, Sept. 12: The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) at Summit (Frisco), 11 a.m.
A rematch of a 2014 quarterfinal won by TCA, this game is an early-season test for both sides. The Titans have already received three goals this season from junior Titus Grant, but the loss to the Indians served as a reminder of 4A's strength.

Summit fell in its opener to Conifer. The Tigers are moving forward without Thomas DeBonville and Alex Veleta, who combined to score 27 of the team's 46 goals as seniors.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) at Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs), 6:30 p.m.
This game pits two teams that are off to 3-0 starts against each other in the middle of the month. One year after winning only four games, the Eagles shut out their first three opponents with a pair of freshmen in net. Junior Robert Lanz scored five goals in those three games.

Cheyenne Mountain, which was upset by Montrose in the second round last fall, showed it is ready for another run with an impressive victory over TCA in the opener. Three different players scored for the Indians.

Monday, Sept. 28: Evergreen at D'Evelyn (Denver), 5 p.m.
D'Evelyn advanced to the state semifinals last season, while Evergreen made the semis the year before. The Jeffco League rivals close out the month against each other, hoping for some momentum in October.

D'Evelyn has started off with mixed results, falling to Ponderosa before tying Lakewood and then defeating Centaurus. Junior Nico Denton picked up three early goals. Evergreen opened with a bang by taking down Air Academy. The Cougars fell to Ponderosa in the second round last October.

Monday, Sept. 28: Centaurus (Lafayette) at Niwot, 4 p.m.
Another 2014 postseason rematch, these two Northern League rivals battled in the second round last fall. Niwot emerged with a 2-1 victory in that one before falling to D'Evelyn in the quarterfinals.

Niwot opened the season with a 10-0 victory against Valley, backed by three goals from senior Justin Barkow. Centaurus got off to a 1-2 start, though sophomore Christopher Himel had three goals in those games.

Other games of note: Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) at Pine Creek (Colorado Springs), Sept. 15; Durango at Montrose, Sept. 18; Far Northeast Warriors at Denver West, Sept. 24; Green Mountain (Lakewood) at Littleton, Sept. 28.

Class 3A
Saturday, Sept. 12: Coal Ridge (New Castle) at Salida, 1 p.m.
Last fall these two teams met in the regular season, with Coal Ridge earning a 2-1 victory. Both teams made strong postseason runs, with Salida falling to Colorado Academy in the semifinals and Coal Ridge getting edged 1-0 to eventual champion Kent Denver in the quarterfinals.

Junior Evan Coit owns five goals on the season thus far for Salida, which topped Crested Butte in a playoff rematch before falling to Pagosa Springs in a 7-5 shootout. Coal Ridge was blanked 3-0 by Eagle Valley in its opener. The Titans return seniors Ray Bencomo and Sergio Valentin, who combined for 27 goals last fall.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: Frontier Academy (Greeley) at Faith Christian (Arvada), 6 p.m.
The only blight on Frontier Academy's record in the early going came at the hands of defending state champion Kent Denver, but the Wolverines – who reached the quarterfinals last fall – followed that up by toppling 2014 semifinalist Denver Christian.

Faith Christian opened with hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory against Vista PEAK Prep. Justin Gigliotti and Garret Pott scored goals for Faith Christian.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Colorado Academy (Denver) at Kent Denver (Englewood), 4 p.m.
A rematch of the 2014 3A state championship, this is also a key Region 6 league battle for both teams. Kent Denver has opened with three impressive victories, outscoring opponents 16-1 in the process. Junior Max Gottesfeld posted eight goals in those games, with Kelly Hone and David Felman adding three each for the defending champions. Colorado Academy opened its season with a 4-0 victory against Dawson School.

Other games of note: Denver Christian at Vail Mountain, Sept. 11; Denver Science & Tech Stapleton at Sheridan (Denver), Sept. 18; Rye at Pagosa Springs, Sept. 19.