Greeley Central’s Cinderella season is headed for its last stop: the Class 4A championship game.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats upset No. 2 Silver Creek behind a masterclass by goalkeeper Robert Humphrey late Wednesday night at Trailblazer Stadium. The senior denied the Raptors time and time again through regulation and two overtimes before scoring the decisive penalty himself in a 0-0, 5-4 win in PKs.
“During the game, it was a feeling of having the community on your back and you just don’t want to let them down,” said Humphrey, who moved to Greeley from California this last summer. “So it’s just exciting seeing the smiles on Greeley’s faces. We’re just supporting Greeley.”
The win sends Greeley Central into the boys soccer finals for the first time in program history. The school has not won a team championship since boys golf won a 4A title in 2005.
“It’s crazy to see how many people from Greeley came out to see us,” senior captain Joel Gonzalez said. “We want to bring it home for them because we’re not just doing this for ourselves, we’re doing it for the whole town.”
All boys soccer finals are Saturday at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
Class 2A
No. 3 Crested Butte vs. No. 4 Forge Christian at 9 a.m.
What’s at stake: Forge Christian is after its second straight 2A title and seventh championship in program history.
Crested Butte can win its fifth 2A title since 2018. The Titans are a perfect 4 for 4 in the finals.
How they got here: The Fury outscored their first three playoff opponents 14-1. They beat No. 1 Bruce Randolph 5-1 in the semifinals, led by Wyatt Arter’s two goals and an assist.
Crested Butte had a little more resistance. After the Titans beat Dawson in the second round, they tallied a pair of 1-0 victories against No. 6 Telluride and No. 2 Salida.
Class 3A
No. 3 Steamboat Springs vs. No. 4 Kent Denver at noon
What’s at stake: Steamboat Springs ended a 27-year state title drought with a 4A championship in hockey in March. They’ve yet to win one in boys soccer.
The Sun Devils are in pursuit of their first title in boys soccer since they won five times from 2014-19.
How they got here: Kent Denver finished third in the always-loaded 3A/2A Metro League but has navigated the playoffs well so far, including quarterfinal and semifinal wins over league foes Peak to Peak and The Academy.
Steamboat Springs’ last two wins came against Metro Leaguers as well. The Sailors beat No. 2 Jefferson Academy in a semifinal shootout after they blew out Eagle Ridge Academy 5-0.
Class 4A
No. 1 Mullen vs. No. 6 Greeley Central at 3 p.m.
What’s at stake: For Mullen’s 84 team championships in school history, only one has come in boys soccer (2011). The Mustangs lost to Air Academy in last year’s 4A final.
Greeley Central had four straight losing seasons before winning a playoff game in 2024. A year later, can it finish with its first-ever title?
How they got here: The Wildcats keep finding ways to advance in these playoffs. Before their shootout win against No. 2 Silver Creek, they rallied to beat No. 3 Battle Mountain 2-1 in overtime.
Mullen upended No. 12 Cheyenne Mountain in the semifinals on a long throw-in by Andrew Sedita.
Class 5A
No. 1 Ralston Valley vs. No. 6 Regis Jesuit at 6 p.m.
What’s at stake: The Mustangs are looking for their first state title in boys soccer. They finally broke through and got to championship Saturday after bowing out in the two quarterfinals and a semifinal the past three seasons.
Regis Jesuit can win its first title in boys soccer since 1996. The Raiders lost in the 5A finals in both 2019 and 2008.
How they got here: Ralston Valley and Regis Jesuit tied 1-1 on Aug. 26.
Since then, the Mustangs haven’t lost and have won 17 straight. In the semifinals Monday, they won 1-1, 3-1 in PKs against No. 12 Cherokee Trail.
The Raiders went 17-0-1 after their draw with Ralston Valley. In their semifinal, Kam Bachus scored his team-leading 15th goal of the year in a 3-2 win over No. 7 Pine Creek.
