COLORADO SPRINGS – For years, Evan Kulstad dreamed about this moment – and when it arrived, he rose to the occasion.
 
The Broomfield High School goalkeeper made a diving stop to his left on a penalty kick by Denver East’s Grant Elliott securing the Eagles' 4-3 win in the shootout to propel Broomfield to the Class 5A state title Saturday night at the Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
 
The game went into a five-round shootout after the contest remained tied at 1-1 through 30 minutes of two overtimes.
 
“I just had faith in my boys,” said the junior Kulstad, who only made two saves in the 110 minutes of action before the shootout. “We have worked so hard. We wished we could have ended it in regular time, but it didn’t play out that way. I just said to myself ‘No pressure.’ There was only two ways he (Elliott) could go and if I pick the right one it is saved. It worked out and this is just surreal.”
 
The Eagles (16-2-2) won their Colorado prep record ninth boys soccer state title and first since 2019. Denver East, the reigning Class 5A state champ, ended its season with a 15-5 record. The Angels were trying to win their fifth state crown.
 
This game had no shortage of thrilling moments – starting with Marcus Von.
 
Von, considered one of the top players in the state, delivered a goal for the ages to break a scoreless tie when he found the back of the next on a bicycle kick at the 58th minute. It was the senior's 19th goal of the season.
 
“That was the craziest goal I have ever scored in the biggest game I ever played in,” Von said. “I thank the Lord for it. To score like that was incredible. That was the first time I have ever scored on a bicycle kick in a game – ever. Then to do in the state championship game is incredible.”
 
Just when it appeared Von's goal might be enough for the Eagles – Denver East answered back.
 
Less than three minutes later, Theo Scott sent a free kick in from 24 yards out for a dramatic goal to tie the game at 1-1. That was the only shot on goal by the Angels in regulation time.
 
Denver East kept its state championship hopes alive with scintillating play from goalie Liam Sloan and his teammate Jade Russell.
 
Broomfield’s Luis Meza Acosta kicked toward an open net and at the last moment the ball was kicked away by Russell with less than two minutes left in regulation.
 
That sent the game into overtime and Russell stepped up again, knocking away a sure goal by Meza-Acosta. A short-time later there was another goal-line clearance by the Angels to stay alive.
 
With Broomfield continuing to press the attack, Denver East’s Scott saw his night end prematurely when he hit Meza Acosta into the barrier in front of the north grandstand at the 94th minute. Scott was given a red card and exited the game.
 
Despite the Angels playing a man down, Broomfield couldn’t finish them off with a goal – but Von wasn’t worried.
 
“This team has been resilient every single day, every single game,” Von said. “It is what Broomfield is made out of. We now have nine state championships to show what we are made out of.”
 
With the state championship on the line – Broomfield went 4-for-4 in the shootout with goals from Von, Adam Thresher, Luke Seesdorf and Elijah Smith.
 
That set the stage for Elliott vs. Kulstad and Kulstad prevailed to power the Eagles to state championship glory.
 
“Evan is so dedicated, and he has gone through so much, so much,” Von said. “He just keeps going and to see him get a moment like that I feel so happy for him.”