On Tuesday night the boys and girls varsity soccer teams opened their season with night games at the APS Complex for the first round of the APS Metro Tournament.

The boys team has received a lot of favorable press during the preseason, including a #8 national ranking in the USA Today top 25, despite losing 11 players from last year’s state champion squad.

The losses have been offset by six JV players moving up the ranks, one transfer from Holland, a late arrival from New Jersey, and a new ninth grader. This diverse group had very little practice time to become cohesive as they entered into a game against Rio Grande.

Any doubts about the team’s ability to play together were put to rest quickly by the powerful tandem of Charles and Alex Touche ‘17. Alex was named the 5A player of the year last season and they both “moonlight” for the Colorado Rapids Academy playing in tournaments around the country and recently competing against the U19 squads of professional teams in Germany. Alex passed the ball to newly elected captain Charles, who finished neatly in the corner of the net after just 15 minutes of play. Six minutes later Charles set up Owen Keleher ’18—the transplant from Holland—and then just before half time, varsity returner Hardy Stone ’18.

For all the goals scored, the team was still getting used to the turf at the complex and played difficult, bouncing balls to each other. At halftime they were encouraged to make life easier for each other by possessing more and playing the ball directly to teammates on the fast surface.

The team responded with a crisp second half, scoring five more goals and getting every member of the team on the field. New student Mateo Centenera ’20 scored two, the first after dogged work in the box harassing the defense and the second on a cross knocked down by Jazz Henry ’19—our new arrival from New Jersey when his mother was a recent hire at Academy. Owen scored two more and caused a third when his corner kick was knocked in by the defense. Final score 8-0.

Lucas Schlenzig ’18 returned in goal to keep a clean sheet after a year off due to ACL surgery.

The game finished under the lights, with cheers from students and parents, as well as the girls team—which had won 4-0 moments before.

The team plays next on Thursday at 4:00 against a talented Cibola side at the APS Complex.

The team is:

Alex Esparza ‘17

Ryan O’Malia ‘17

Alex Touche ‘17

Charles Touche ‘17

Owen Keleher ‘18

Chris Pullen ‘18

Lucas Schlenzig ‘18

Hardy Stone ‘18

Nick Williams ‘18

Tai Durell ‘19

Jazz Henry ‘19

Aaron Hill ‘19

Lucas Jepsen ‘19

Curtis McNary ‘19

Ryan Sabol ‘19

Jackson Taylor ‘19

Mateo Centenera ‘20

Paul Devine ’17 Manager