The defending boys soccer champs from Broomfield and Crested Butte are off to strong starts this fall.
It’s been less ideal so far for the reigning title winners from Battle Mountain and Colorado Academy.
In our first weekly look-in on boys’ soccer in 2024, let’s dive into a couple of the best teams in the state from last year and see how they’re faring early on this fall.
Class 5A
Broomfield Eagles: The 5A champs (2-0) opened the season with shutout wins over Northglenn and Silver Creek. Goalkeeper Evan Kulstad has nine saves in two shutout performances in net.
Denver East Angels: They finished runner-up to the Eagles in 2023 and have started their 2024 campaign 1-1-1. After opening up with a 2-1 win over reigning 4A champ Battle Mountain, the Angels tied Air Academy before falling to Rock Canyon, 1-0, on Friday.
Legacy Lightning: The Lightning, who were the top seed in the 5A playoffs last year, losing to No. 32 Lakewood in the opening round, will look much different in 2024. Longtime coach Anthony Romano is gone, replaced by Bryan Johnson. The Lightning are 1-2 and lost to Boulder, 9-0, on Thursday.
Northfield Nighthawks: Aiming for their fourth straight appearance in the finals — but now in 5A — the Nighthawks (3-0) are out to a nice start with wins over 5A power Valor Christian, 4A reigning champ Battle Mountain and 3A defending champ Colorado Academy.
Class 4A
Battle Mountain Huskies: The Huskies bounced back from a pair of tough losses to open the season, falling to 5A and 4A 2023 runner-ups Denver East and Northfield. The Huskies beat Northfield 2-0 in last year’s final, but lost to the 2021 and ’22 champs, 3-1, last week. They face Centaurus in a rematch of last year’s semifinal Saturday.
Centaurus Warriors: The 2023 semifinalist opened the season with wins over Cheyenne Mountain (a 2023 quarterfinalist) and Lewis-Palmer. Goalkeeper Nicholas Jones has 11 saves in two shutout performances in net.
Regis Groff Fusion: The Fusion are 3-0, beating Adams City, DSST: Green Valley Ranch and Riverdale Ridge a combined 8-0. Last year, Regis Groff reached the semifinals before being knocked off by Northfield.
Class 3A
Colorado Academy Mustangs: The defending 3A champs (1-1) beat Arrupe Jesuit, 4-0, behind a pair of goals and an assist from junior Zack Lapidus. They lost 1-0 to Northfield on Friday.
Coal Ridge Titans: The 3A runner-up split their first two games of the season, falling to Glenwood Springs on Friday before bouncing back with a 9-1 win against Telluride on Saturday.
Kent Denver Sun Devils: They beat Golden and lost to Mullen last week. A year ago, as the 3A No. 2, they fell in the second round to Coal Ridge.
Peak to Peak Pumas: Last year’s 3A No. 3 postseason team tied Timnath and beat Liberty Common to open its 2024 season. Micah Thengvall has a quick two goals and an assist.
Class 2A
Crested Butte Titans: The reigning 2A champs have won their first three games of the season, beating Roaring Fork (1-0), Basalt (3-1) and Caprock Academy (10-0). Freshman Kyle Moran has four goals. His junior brother Shawn has three.
Bishop Machebeuf Buffaloes: The 2023 2A runner-up opened the season with a couple of blowout wins. They beat Windsor Charter Academy, 9-1, and Englewood, 7-0. Luke Sri already has six goals.
Denver Christian Thunder: Brady Kindig leads the classification at 15 points, with seven goals and an assist in three games played. Last year’s semifinalist — who took eventual champ Crested Butte to a shootout — started that season 0-2-1. This year, they’re 3-0, with shutout wins over Telluride, Thomas MacLaren School and SkyView Academy.
