(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Things did not go the way Broomfield boys soccer coach Jim Davidson wanted them to on Saturday.
The Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Boulder and had a quick turnaround this week before facing off against another one of Colorado’s best.
But the results were more favorable as Class 5A No. 2-ranked Broomfield beat 4A No. 1 Cheyenne Mountain 4-0 on Tuesday night.
“We were not real good on Saturday against Boulder,” Davidson said. “We asked our kids to get a response and get on the rebound. So I think our kids played a little angry today and we got our confidence.”
But that confidence didn’t return right away. The first half was very much a see-saw battle that could’ve seen either team grab an edge. The Indians (1-1 overall) had the best look off a corner kick, but the ball was headed away from the net by junior Cade Austin.
“Knowing his size and seeing he got up there, I was really surprised,” Eagles keeper Jose Ogaz. “But I knew he was behind me and I knew that he had me on that.”
For over 39 minutes in the first half, both teams were scoreless. That tie was broken as Tanner Smith got the Eagles (1-1) on the board by knocking a loose ball into the net with just 13 seconds remaining in the first half.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
“That’s kind of what we do,” Smith said. “We (get it in the box) and hope it ends somewhere where someone can put it in the back of the net.”
Coming out in the second half, the Indians looked determined to tie the game and solidify their spot as one of the state’s top teams, regardless of class.
But the momentum and energy ultimately belonged to Broomfield. Michael Mooney made it a 2-0 less than eight minutes into the second half. Smith added another goal on a free kick and Cole Ross got in on the fun to get the Eagles their fourth goal of the game.
Once control of the scoreboard was established, Broomfield played with more intensity and simply wore Cheyenne Mountain down.
“Honestly, I think we just ran out of gas,” Cheyenne Mountain coach Tomas Martinez said. “They were just deeper. They were pushing the pace and we just weren’t quite as deep.”
It was a much-needed for the Eagles. The one-goal loss to the Panthers on Saturday started the season on somewhat of a sour note. Turning around and going on the road to beat Cheyenne Mountain can easily change the mood of a team mindset, even if the season is still in its infancy.
“This really brings up our spirits after last week’s loss,” Smith said. “Cheyenne Mountain is a good team so it really brings it up for us.”
The Indians haven’t won a boys state soccer title since 2013, Martinez knows that games against tough teams like Broomfield will only help prepare them for a hopeful title run.
“That’s why we schedule them,” Martinez said. “We have stuff to build on and learn from. It’s still early in the season and we have more tough games ahead of us.”