Senior forward John Austin has helped The Classical Academy to a 12-1 start and a No. 2 ranking in Class 3A this season. The Titans had their first loss Thursday, 3-2 against No. 5 Salida.
Photos courtesy of The Classical Academy
Blake Galvin of
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) admits he can't help but smile when he thinks about what the next few years might hold for his soccer team.
After all, the top three scorers on his Titans' squad this season are all underclassmen, and they only promise to get better the more they play together.
But that's not to say that Galvin is writing off this year. TCA, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the CHSAAnow.com coaches and media poll, started the season 12-0 and had outscored their opponents 61-7 before a Thursday night showdown against unbeaten and fifth-ranked Salida. TCA suffered its first loss, 3-2.
"I'm very excited about the future, and it's difficult not to look ahead," Galvin said earlier this week. "But we do our best to stay focused on what's in front of us. We have a chance to have a special season this year as well."
Heading the charge of the youth movement at TCA is sophomore forward
Robby Jacobs, who is the state's second leading goal-scorer. He has found the back of the net 23 times.
Jacobs proved he was a dangerous scorer last season as a freshman, finishing second on the team with 17 goals while helping the Titans earn the No. 1 seed and reach the quarterfinals of the state tournament. But Galvin said Jacobs has really taken his game to the next level this year.
"We knew he was a goal-scorer last year, but he took a back seat to Evan Young, who was a 100-goal scorer in his career for us," said Galvin, who is in his eighth season leading the program. "But with Evan graduated, Robby has filled that roll. Part of it is opportunity and part of it is improvement. But you either have it or you don't."
Entering the Salida matchup, Jacobs had scored at least one goal in all but one game so far this season and notched six goals in a 9-0 win against St. Mary's (Colorado Springs) on Sept. 26.
In the Titans' signature win so far this season, a 2-1 victory against ninth-ranked and previously unbeaten Manitou Springs on Sept. 24, Jacobs scored the team's first goal and assisted on the game-winner a short time later. He has eight assists.
"Robby has a nose for the goal and he puts himself in position to score," Galvin said. "His teammates know where to look for him and they set him up nicely."
The Titans are also getting major contributions from a pair of freshman in forward
Titus Grant (15 goals, two assists) and midfielder
Jeremy Baldes (nine goals, seven assists).
"We're fortunate that we have a lot of offensive-minded underclassmen," Galvin said.
He also said that there isn't any resentment from the upperclassmen, with so many younger players scoring goals and grabbing headlines.
"None at all," Galvin said. "The majority of our upperclassmen have more of a defensive mindset anyway. They all just want what is best for the team."
Galvin admits there is some concern with how the young players will handle the pressure as games get more meaningful down the stretch, but said their experiences through club ball will help.
"Because of club they've competed in state games and been under that kind of pressure already," Galvin said. "But anytime you're dealing with 14 to 18 year olds, you never know what will happen."
