COMMERCE CITY — The Class 4A boys soccer state championship at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday pitted top-seeded and unbeaten Air Academy against No. 7 Centaurus in what appeared to be a hero versus underdog matchup.
Air Academy was making its seventh appearance in a state title game and first since winning it in 2014. Centaurus, on the other hand, was making its program debut in a state final and only its second appearance in a state final in any sport since 1995.
But the game was even all the way until senior Ryan Self’s game-winner with 3:29 remaining in the first overtime gave Air Academy a 1-0 win and their second Class 4A title in the last four years.
“I remember being a freshman sitting in the stands over there watching that 2014 team go undefeated,” he said. “I just kept thinking to myself, thatap what I want to do. Thatap my goal. To see it become a reality, I’m just so happy right now.”
Things looked bleak for the Kadets, who finished 20-0, with just under a minute to play after a hand-ball in the box gave the Warriors (16-2-1) a penalty shot that would have likely been the decider. But the Warriors’ penalty attempt went high and gave Air Academy new life.
Perhaps no moment was more heart-wrenching than in the 57th minute when Self’s header attempt from point-blank range was saved by Centaurus goalkeeper Rodrigo Ruiz. Then, on the ensuing Warriors possession, Air Academy keeper Thomas Beatty returned the favor with a save of his own.
Beatty then turned away a rocket of a shot from Centaurus’ Fernando Ruiz in the in the 62nd minute. Air Academy’s Luke Louthan almost scored the go-ahead goal with less than five minutes to play but the ball deflected off the post after slipping away from Rodrigo Ruiz.
“I felt it was bound to happen eventually,” Self said of the scoring chances. “They had a lot of other chances, too. It could’ve gone either way but I’m just glad the ball ended up in the back of their net.”
From Beatty’s perspective, he saw more action than he would have preferred. But at the end of the day, he did what his team needed to earn the win.
“I kind of wish I was more bored this game,” Beatty joked. “We made some good plays when we had to and some other bad plays when shouldn’t have, but we’ll take it.”
Saturday was a roller coaster of emotions for Air Academy. But just like in 2014, an undefeated season and a title belong to them.
