That postseason feeling has arrived on the pitch.
With postseason play officially off and running this week, CHSAA released the boys soccer state tournament brackets on Monday. Action gets underway on Wednesday with play beginning in Class 5A and 3A. The first round for 4A and 2A begins on Thursday. The season will conclude on Nov. 16 with all four championships games being played at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
Below is a brief overview of each classification.
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Class 5A
Only two teams made it through the regular season without a loss and those squads take the top two seeds in the biggest classification. Northfield enters the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed with Boulder seeded right behind the Nighthawks at No. 2.
Northfield has played in the 4A title game in the three seasons leading up to this year. The Nighthawks won the 4A title in 2021 and 2022 before falling to Battle Mountain in last year’s final. They moved up to 5A for the 2024-26 cycle, but have fared well against 5A competition.
Boulder typically enters the tournament as a high seed and this year is no different. The Panthers last played in the 5A title game in 2016, surviving a marathon round of PK’s with Broomfield, winning 13-12 in the shootout.
Defending champion Broomfield gets the No. 3 seed and Cherry Creek rounds out the top four.
The complete 5A boys soccer tournament bracket.
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Class 4A
There was a bit of movement in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index in the final days of the regular season, but it’s Mullen who ends up with the No. 1 seed on the bracket. The Mustangs last advanced to the state title game in 2021 where they were beaten 1-0 by Northfield.
Defending champion Battle Mountain was sitting at No. 1 in the Index during the shuffle over the last several days, but the Huskies dropped to No. 2 when all was said and done. They have made it to the 4A title game the last two years, falling to Northfield in 2022 before getting revenge last fall to capture their second state title.
Air Academy and Centaurus come in at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively on the bracket.
The complete 4A boys soccer tournament bracket.
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Class 3A
Colorado Academy has claimed the last two 3A titles, but Holy Family has dreams of ending that streak. After dropping from 4A to start this cycle, the Tigers are the No. 1 team on the 3A bracket. Holy Family has made it to one state title game in program history, losing to Faith Christian (now Forge Christian) in the 3A final in 2003.
Jefferson Academy is the No. 2 seed on the bracket. While the girls team has made it to several title games – and even won a couple – in recent years, the boys have only been to two in program history. They lost to Roaring Fork in 2021 and fell to Kent Denver in PK’s in their first championship game appearance in 2016.
Peak to Peak takes the No. 3 spot in the tournament, most recently reaching the championship game in 2022. Rifle takes the No. 3 spot and will likely head into the tournament with the taste of getting upset by No. 15 Coal Ridge in last year’s semifinal still fresh in its mouth.
The complete 3A boys soccer tournament bracket.
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Class 2A
Denver Christian nearly advanced to the 2A championship game last year, but fell to eventual champion Crested Butte in PK’s. This year, the Thunder head into the playoffs as the top seed on the bracket. They haven’t played in a boys soccer championship game since 2009 and haven’t won a title since 2007.
Forge Christian is in a similar boat. As fresh face in the 2A field, the Fury would love to end a 13-year championship drought after snagging the No. 2 seed in the field.
Crested Butte is No. 3 in its bid to repeat as state champion and Salida comes in at No. 4.
