Goalies stand on their heads as Columbine and Golden go scoreless in boys soccer action

ARVADA — Wednesday night at the North Area Athletic Complex belonged to the goalkeepers.

Columbine sophomore Avery Ingallas and Golden senior Grady Peters both recored shutouts in net during the 5A Jeffco versus 4A Jeffco battle on the boys soccer pitch.

“We knew it was going to be a good game. We knew it was going to be a fight,” Columbine’s first-year head coach Brian De Herrera-Schnering said after the 0-0 draw. “We knew Golden would come out physical, strong and fast.”

The first half was scoreless after impressive play in net by both Ingallas and Peters.

“I coached Grady years ago with Rush (club team) and he was teammates with some of my boys,” De Herrera-Schnering said. “Grady had I think eight terrific saves. We were right there quite a few times.”

It was more of the same in the second half Columbine senior Connor Quintana had a great scoring chance in the 69th minute, but Grady coming up with another big save.

“It felt pretty good,” Peters said of his shutout in net. “Columbine is a great squad. We knew that coming in. I knew if we had a chance of staying in it I had to stand on my head. I did what I needed to do.”

Golden sophomore Bryce Monte gave the Demons a great scoring chance in the 73rd minute, but Ingallas kept a clean-sheet on both sides.

“It was a well-fought battle between both teams,” Golden coach David Perez said. “Defense for both teams stood out. Grady Peters was excellent in goal. The man was on fire.”

Columbine (2-0-1 record) had scored four goals in each of its first two games of the season. Wins over Riverdale Ridge and Durango. The Rebels will face another solid 4A Jeffco team in D’Evelyn (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 4, over at Lakewood Memorial Field.

De Herrera-Schnering couldn’t be too disappointed after the draw to one of the favorites to contend for not only a 4A Jeffco title, but a 4A state title this season.

“It could have been a game that we score five goals, but we didn’t,” De Herrera-Schnering said. “That happens.”

Golden (2-0-1) hasn’t allowed a goal in its first three games this season. The Demons have wins over Chatfield and Centaurus already under their belts.

The Demons will attempt to repeat as conference champs for the first time since accomplishing back-to-back league titles in 2019 and 2020.

“It means everything to us,” Peters said of defending the 4A Jeffco League title. “State is the final goal, but to get there you have to perform in league to get a good seed. That is what it is all about.”

Golden advanced to the 4A quarterfinals a year ago, but lost to eventual state champion Mullen 2-1 in overtime on the Mustangs’ home field. That loss still sticks with Perez.

“The hard part about (Golden) is we have such a big program. We lose a lot of graduating seniors every year,” Perez said talking about the 18 seniors the program graduated from last year’s team that was 12-3-3. “We get a whole new squad coming in and trying to build that cohesiveness. We only get better later in the season.”

The Demons return to the pitch on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when they head to Highlands Ranch to take on Valor Christian. Golden starts up league play next week too. The Demons open conference play against Littleton on Thursday, Sept. 10, at NAAC.

“It’s a great group of young men. I’m happy with what we have,” Perez said. “It’s going to be a fun season.”