Boys’ soccer got their season underway last month on the wrong foot, despite a strong first half, a late second half goal saw the Spartans drop their season opener 1-0 to Smoky Hill. They rebounded and gained a win against Palmer 4-1, than dropped another hard fought match away at Lewis-Palmer 2-0, before drawing with Palmer Ridge 0-0 last week and 1-1 with Discovery Canyon on Wednesday and an unfortunate 3-0 loss to ThunderRidge, who made the Round of 16 in the 5A Playoffs last year, on Friday. The Spartans currently sit at 1-3-2 with two games remaining before they open up their 2024 CSML 5A/4A league play at Liberty on October 1st.
In recent years the Spartans have been one of the strongest sides from Colorado Springs. In the past three seasons the Spartans have qualified for post-season play under Head Coach Adam Foulk with impressive results during the regular season including an enticing 1-1 draw with #2 ranked Rampart last season and a 2-1 victory over #7 Legend two years ago. But last season saw the departure of key players from those impressive Doherty squads in the form of Center-Back Kai Sundermeyer, Midfielder Axel Zuniga-Achivez, who signed with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks U-21’s this summer, and Forwards Daniel “Takis” Magallon-Hernandez and Courage Aweanung. This year the Spartans find themselves in the midst of a youth revolution with seven freshmen on the varsity team, with such a young squad it is important that players are able to step up when called upon in games and for players to be able to mesh together as a unit.
When we asked about how he feels about being part of such a young core of players, freshman Center-Back Spencer Vollemer said,”It has been a challenge so far, but I think when we become a tighter group things will start clicking.”
With a young team, upperclassmen need to take bigger roles in the team to help the younger players gain knowledge and understand the increased speed of the game in High School. When asked about what this year meant to him, junior Forward Drew Medina said, “It means a lot, We wanna continue to improve and win games, and with such a young team it is important that we gel together and become a tight group.”
Junior captain Andrik Perez and sophomore captain Kaleb Grejada said, “It is an honor to lead the team in a captains role, with such a young group it is important to lead them and grow them for the future so that way during the next few years they’re a close group of guys.” With leadership being a topic on everybody’s tongue, it is clear to see how valued a good leader is to the team for now and for the future of the program under coach Adam Foulk.
The Spartans line up tonight against the Coronado Cougars who sit at 2-1-2 who enter the game coming of a major 1-1 draw against #3 Mullen on the road. Doherty has never lost to Coronado under Head Coach Adam Foulk and a win against Coronado after their impressive result against Mullen could see Doherty jump in the RPI which would help their push for a return to the 5A State Playoffs. See the schedule below for the Spartan’s remaining schedule and for game information.
DHS Boys Soccer remaining schedule
9/19 : Vs. Coronado (Doherty High School) 7PM
9/26 : Vs. Harrison (Doherty High School) 7PM
10/1 : @Liberty* (D20 Stadium |Liberty|) 7PM
10/3 : @Pueblo West* (Pueblo West High School) 7PM
10/8 : Vs. FFC* (Doherty High School) 7PM
10/10: @Rampart* (D20 Stadium |Liberty|) 7PM
10/15 : Vs. Vista Ridge* (Doherty High School) 7PM
10/17 : @Chaparral (Echo Park Stadium) 7PM
10/22 : @Pine Creek* (D20 Stadium |Pine Creek|) 7PM
* 5/4A CSML Games.
