High school sports |

Fall ‘Four’cast: Storylines to watch out for in the local soccer scene

When one of the greatest high school soccer coaches in Colorado history stepped down, uncertainty abounded over what the future of Broomfield boys soccer would hold. Two seasons later, Jim Davidson’s successor put all of that doubt to rest.

The Eagles’ Class 5A state championship run, capped off with a flawless bicycle kick from Marcus Von and a high-stakes shootout in the title game, provided plenty of heart-stopping moments for their fans and coach, Zach Hindman, last fall. They needed three overtimes just to get there.

Hindman knew his boys had the discipline and talent to achieve his first-ever title and the program’s ninth, saying at the time: “It’s just euphoric. I feel so happy for the boys. We stood on the shoulders of giants and I think the guys dug in and decided that they were going to embrace that. They did it, and they dug deep through adversity again.”

What will the Eagles and some of the other top programs in the area be able to achieve this year?

Throughout the rest of the month, we will focus on each fall sport, diving into some of the most interesting storylines and unanswered questions about the programs around Boulder, Broomfield and Longmont.

Storyline one: With Von out of the picture, who will step into the scoring role for Broomfield?

Von didn’t just provide the top highlight from the title game at Weidner Field; he was a walking highlight reel from start to finish last season. The senior leader was the face of the offense, netting 19 goals before the final buzzer and hoisting of the championship trophy.

Fifteen other boys contributed goals behind him, though none surpassed four scores. It seems that a player or two may have to step up to fill his shoes, or the Eagles will have to score by committee. Luckily, their ace in the hole stands squarely in the goal box. Rising senior Evan Kulstad made the gold-worthy saves during last year’s season-ending shootout, finishing with 81 overall.

Storyline two: What will Legacy look like without Tony Romano at the helm?

Through the past 15 years at Legacy High School, Tony Romano has altered the landscape for boys soccer beyond recognition. He took a 5-10 team in 2009 and transformed it into a winning program just two years later.

Since then, the Lightning have become a perennial powerhouse in the sport, even earning the No. 1 overall seed in 5A last year before Lakewood upset them in the first round of the playoffs. He chose to step away a few months ago to spend more time with family.

The Lightning will be working with a clean slate this season, all the way from the top down, after graduating 14 players from the varsity roster. Senior keeper Connor Goin, who suited up for seven games in 2023, will be a familiar face in the goalbox.

Storyline three: How much higher can the Falcons fly?

A mere three years ago, during the COVID-delayed 2020 (spring 2021) season, Skyline soccer operated like a ship without a rudder: drifting away through a tough Northern League. Last year, the Falcons were almost unstoppable.

Almost.

Thanks to the incredible talent of key players like Times-Call player of the year Brian Heredia (27 goals) and Angel Pereyra (14 goals), the Falcons breezed into the 4A playoffs with just a single loss to their names.

Niwot ended that run with a second-round, 4-2 victory to keep that rivalry alive and well. And, while Heredia said his goodbyes to Skyline over the summer, Pereyra should return to the high school pitch in 2024, as should three other players who all contributed four goals apiece. Junior keeper Adan Del Rio, presumably, will take on the responsibilities in the goal box.

Question four: Who will be the gatekeeper for Centaurus?

If last year’s run to the 4A state semis proved anything, it’s that talent for Centaurus boys soccer ran as deep as a gold vein in the Colorado mountains during the mid-1800s.

The well, although a bit depleted from last year, still shimmers compared to many teams that graduated top talent or large senior classes. That starts with rising seniors Iain Dunham and Liam Dols, who each scored seven goals last year, as well as the six other returners to added their names to the scoreboard.

The biggest question mark, however, will surround their keepers, with both Garrett Pugh and Kyle Demmon entering the transfer portal into college. The pair played a crucial role, especially late in the season, in keeping the Warriors alive for as long as they did.