Colorado boys state soccer finals on tap this Saturday

Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) coach Ben Corley knows how he'd like Saturday's Class 5A championship game to go.

"I'd love for us to win 5-0," said Corley, who is leading his Eagles into the title game for the first time in school history. "I don't predict that to happen, though."

Probably not, as the championship clash slated for 3:30 p.m. at Dick's Sporting Goods Park features a pair of clubs that have combined to post 26 shutouts this season. Fourth-seeded Pine Creek (16-1-2) has kept opponents off the board in 15 contests; No. 2 Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) (16-0-2) has 11 shutouts.

"Defense has definitely been a strength for us this year," said Corley, who's Eagles knocked off defending champion
Boulder 1-0 in overtime in the semifinals. "(Rock Canyon has) also shown an ability to shut out their opponents. I think they have three shutouts in their four playoff games, which is the same as us."

Pine Creek's defense is anchored by senior keeper David Meyer, who has allowed only four goals while stopping 70 shots this season. He has 14 shutouts, as he's helped the Eagles outscore opponents 47-5 on the year.

Offensively, Pine Creek has a balanced attack with five players notching five goals or more this season. Senior Michael Steffy leads the way with 11 goals, but the Eagles ability to spread around the attack makes it hard for foes to concentrate on shutting down just one player.

"That was our big question mark heading into the season," Corley said. "We knew we were going to have a good defense. We just didn't know where the goals were going to come from. We've found ways to score in a lot of different ways.
"It's been a real balanced effort and the guys have done a great job finding ways to score on free kicks and in the flow of play."

The Jaguars also have a balanced attack, with 13 different players scoring at least one goal this season, with senior Josh Kracke netting a team-high 10 goals. Junior Andrew Greiner scored his second goal of the season Wednesday night, the only goal in Rock Canyon's 1-0 semifinal win against Denver East.

Seniors Nathan Shumer and Sam Makikalli have both seen significant time in the cage for the Jaguars, with both keepers playing a half in the win over the Angels.

One thing Corley doesn't have to worry about is his team being tight heading into their first state championship game. Corley said that during Thursday's practice his players were having a good time goofing off. At first the coaches tried to rein them in and get them focused, but Corley eventually decided to let the players enjoy themselves.

"The reality was they were having fun and that's what it's supposed to be about," Corley said. "If you're not having fun, then what's the point?"

MaxPreps Colorado state soccer brackets

The 4A championship game – slated for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park – features top-seeded Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) (18-1) against a familiar foe, third-seeded Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) (16-3). Those teams faced each other on Oct. 1, with the Kadets pulling out a 4-3 victory.

Air Academy advanced to the finals with a dominant 4-0 victory against Ponderosa in the semifinals. Sophomore Gabriel Stuger scored a pair of goals in the win over the Mustangs, and the Kadets also received scores from Austin Dewing and Alex Granados.

Dewing leads high-powered Air Academy with 23 goals and 14 assists, while Matt Pipan has a .593 goals against average in the cage.

Cheyenne Mountain made the finals by knocking off Evergreen 1-0, getting a goal from Jake Rodney with just less than 10 minutes remaining in the semifinal contest. The Indians are led by David Mcdermed's 13 goals and Sean Derby's 14 assists.

In Class 3A, The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs coach Blake Galvin knows his third-seeded Titans (18-1) have a tall task facing them in the title game, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff. TCA will take on top-seeded and defending champion Colorado Academy (Denver) (18-0-1), which hasn't lost a game in two years and carries a 39-game unbeaten streak into the title game (37-0-2).

"It's a huge challenge," said Galvin, whose team avenged their only loss of the season with a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Salida in the semifinals. "Colorado Academy is well coached. They're disciplined and organized and they don't make a lot of mistakes. It's a massive challenge."

The fact that the Titans even made it to the title game is pretty remarkable, considering they only have two seniors and one junior that see extensive playing time. But TCA has played beyond their years this season, and believe they have the talent to win it all.

"We have a good shot to win it," Galvin said. "We just have to go out and play our game and not worry about anything else. "I haven't spent a whole lot of time talking to the guys about Colorado Academy. Instead we've been focusing on what we need to do better and playing our game. If we do that, we have a shot at winning it."

Sophomore Robby Jacobs leads TCA with 30 goals and freshman Jeremy Baldes has dished out 21 assists. The team has 100 goals on the season.

Colorado Academy only has half that many goals, finding the back of the net 50 times this year. But the Mustangs have  surrendered only two goals all season and have recorded 13 consecutive shutouts.

"They are so patient and so disciplined," Galvin said of the Mustangs. "And they've been there. I think the majority of the guys on their roster were there last year."