The regular season in boys soccer has two more weeks remaining. Most of the league races across the state will be decided before that.
For those who live for now and say “boo to you” state and league rankings, all of it allows plenty of time for goal scorers like Fredy Peraza of the Lotus School for Excellence and Josafat Rodriguez of Manual to add to their regular season total.
Some, only to come up frustrated against some of the state’s premiere keepers, like Valor Christian’s Dennis Polzin.
Peraza and Rodriguez currently lead the state in goals at 31. Polzin, meanwhile, has been a brick wall this season for the top-ranked team in the largest classification. Each will be a major factor going forward.
In this week’s look at the sport, we dive into a few players from each classification we expect to shine down the stretch in their league title chases and into the playoffs.
Class 5A
“Polzin don’t allow goalz in” has been great, and Valor Christian is just a couple wins away from clinching the 5A Jefferson County League.
The standout junior keeper has the majority of minutes in net (520) for the Eagles this fall, allowing just two goals on 28 shots on net this fall. Nicolas Lynn has most of the rest (237), allowing one goal on 10 shots.
The tandem, along with one of the stingiest backlines in the state, have allowed just four goals this season and no more than one in any game.
If Valor can beat Ralston Valley and Columbine in the next six days, it will clinch league and more than likely the top spot in the 5A playoffs.
Another top goalie in the class: Front Range League standout Shane Williams of Fairview. While the Knights are more or less out of the league title chase, Williams could be a postseason difference-maker with a 5A-most with 151 saves coming into Tuesday.
As far as scorers go, Caden Hickox of Liberty is having the best offensive production in the class. He leads 5A in goals (20), assists (12) and points (52) as the Lancers are currently a half game back of Pine Creek in the 5A Colorado Springs Metro League.
His teammate Ty Kinder is third in points (33) and sixth in goals (11).
Class 4A
Jackson Baker of The Classical Academy leads the classification in points (51) and goals (21) as his Titans are currently undefeated through two games in the 4A/3A CSML North.
The 10th-ranked team in RPI and its ace scorer could, a potential sleeper in the playoffs, already has wins over 5A Pine Creek and Liberty this fall. And last month, it drew with No. 3 Cheyenne Mountain.
Up I-25, Defending champ Northfield has already locked up the 4A/3A Denver League through six league games.
Ren Garfield is sixth in 4A points (33) and fifth in goals (15). Zach Liptzin is seventh in points, 10th in goals (11) and fourth in assists (10). Keeper Zander Kosmas has allowed just two goals in 790 minutes. So good everywhere.
Another game-changer down the stretch: Air Academy keeper Owen Sutherland. He has a goals-against average of .556 as the Kadets sit just a game back of Cheyenne Mountain and Lewis-Palmer in the 4A Pikes Peak League.
Class 3A
Fort Lupton has the top scoring tandem in the classification in Giancarlo Mendez and Santiago Gonzales.
With 21 goals apiece coming into Tuesday, the Blue Devils are currently atop the 3A/2A Frontier League with three league games to go. They still have to face Arrupe Jesuit and KIPP Denver Collegiate, who are in the league mix as well.
Liberty Common, ranked second in the class, meanwhile has a nice forward-goalie combo who could lead the Eagles on a deep run.
Brady Poore is sixth in 3A points (36), 12th in goals (12) and second in assists (12). Keeper Gabe Scarpella has been great, too, currently third in goals-against average at .492 as the Eagles lead the Patriot League with three to go.
Class 2A
The state’s leading scorers belong here.
Peraza of the Lotus School for Excellence and Rodriguez of Manual each have 31 goals coming into Tuesday.
Peraza’s team is sixth in RPI and fifth in the rankings (though the Meteors’ league title chase is just about over as they’re a game and a half back of DSST College View in the 3A/2A Confluence League).
Rodriguez’s Manual team has lost three straight in the 3A/2A Metro League, which is led by 3A No. 1 Jefferson Academy. So a title there is off the table. But the Thunderbolts remain on the bubble for the 16-team postseason field, currently sitting 15th in RPI.
Bishop Machebeuf, this week’s new No. 1 team in 2A, has a strong duo in Jorge Valdes and Jerome Siegel.
Valdes is second in the state in assists (17), third in points (61) and fourth in goals (22). Siegel is first in assists (21), fourth in points (53) and 10th in goals (16).
The Buffaloes are currently second in the 2A Mile High League with three league games remaining. Denver Christian leads them by a game. The two play later Tuesday night (Oct. 11).
