Upset artist Roaring Fork Rams return to defend 3A boys soccer title

When Roaring Fork boys soccer was given the 11th seed in the Class 3A state tournament last season, the Rams were not a team many were picking to make a run to win a state championship.

But as is proven time and time again in state tournaments, any team can go on a run and that’s what they did to capture their first state championship. The Rams took down the first-, second-, and third-seeded teams in last year’s postseason to cap off a rather unpredictable journey to the title.

“We had kind of a bad thing every game where we’d took a goal and it would take us the first half to get into it,” Rams senior Max Brooke said when recapping last season at Broncos/CHSAA Fall Sports High School Media Day. “We’d come back in the second half and win it and it was a reoccurring theme throughout our season.”

While it may not have been the most conventional way to win games, nor the way head coach Nicholas Forbes would have liked, the Rams’ young team never seemed to be out of contention in any game it played.

With three of their top six goal scorers returning this season, along with plenty of young talent, Roaring Fork is in a position to defend its state title. Players like senior Emiliano Magana, junior Josh Hernandez and junior Bennett Jardine all are predicted by Brooke to be huge contributors to the team’s success.

Magana, who finished tied for second in goals in Class 3A last season, provided a brace in last year’s semifinal game against Atlas Preparatory, while Hernandez recorded a goal and had an assist in the state championship victory over Jefferson Academy. Jardine is a part of the back line that will play in front of senior goalkeeper Diego Loya, who only conceded one goal in the seven appearances he made last fall.

“We had a lot of seniors that left us, but we’re still going to look really good this season,” Brooke said. “We have a lot of upcoming talent. I’m excited for what the season will bring.”

While a state championship rematch during the regular season isn’t on the schedule this year’s schedule, Roaring Folk will have the opportunity to find revenge over the three teams that beat them last season; Liberty Common, Aspen and Glenwood Springs. The Rams begin their season on Sept. 8 and have their first three games on the road before hosting Liberty Common and Vail Mountain in a pair of non-league matchups.

After last season’s championship, Coach Forbes didn’t think his team ever acted like underdogs and that his team can handle any team they play. The Rams might find themselves down in games this season, but they likely won’t ever be out of them.