4A Boys Soccer: Air Academy Captures First State Title Since 2018

COLORADO SPRINGS – Before the season, veteran Air Academy High School boys soccer coach Espen Hosoien wasn’t sure his team had state championship talent.

He received his answer Friday night.

On the strength of Ben Brown’s 25-yard rocket goal early in the second half, the Kadets claimed a 1-0 victory over Mullen in the Class 4A boys’ state championship at Weidner Field.

“Right now, I feel relief, like a job well done,” Hosoien said. “I can go home kick my legs up on the couch and enjoy this. I can’t tell you how much I admire these guys and their courage and their push the whole season. To get to come to Weidner Field and do it at home makes it pretty special as well.

“It has been too long since we (last won state). These guys deserve it, and our fans deserve it.”

Air Academy capped its memorable season with a 16-1-2 record. The Kadets have now won six boys soccer state championships, their last coming in 2018.

Mullen was searching for its second state boys soccer state crown to accompany the one the Mustangs captured in 2011. Mullen finished the season 16-2-2.

“This feels amazing, like nothing I have ever felt before, for sure,” Brown said. “I have been dreaming about this for so long and to see it come to fruition is such a blessing. I may have made that kick a couple of times in practice before … actually every practice that I have taken that shot I have never missed it.

“It felt like it was 50 (yards out), but I think it was 25. I got a good, firm hit on the ball. Honestly, right when I kicked it, I knew it was going to go in.”

In the first half both teams had some scoring opportunities, but when the buzzer sounded it was 0-0 at the break.

Mullen’s Rocco Manerbino had a great chance to put Mullen on top early in the second half, but he sent a boot over the crossbar at the 48th minute.

Both teams kept battling until Brown took center stage with his laser shot with 17:40 remaining.

The kick, which resulted in his 20th goal of the season, went just over the head of Mullen goalie Ethan DesMarteau.

“We struggled getting shots on frame in the first half and it takes one,” Hosoien said. “He (Brown) has done it all year. I have seen them in practice, and he knows how to hit them. Obviously, it was a banger as we like to call it and I’m happy for him. He deserves it.”

This week was clearly heroic for Brown as on Wednesday he made a clutch penalty kick with two seconds left in regulation against Battle Mountain, a game the Kadets eventually won 3-2 in overtime to advance to the state finals.

The Mustangs continued to frantically press the attack as the clock ticked down but could never find the back of the net.

“This is unbelievable,” Air Academy goalie Jackson Gorr said. “I have been dreaming about this since I was a little kid when I came and watched (state championship games). I have been a Kadet since birth and coming here and winning state in a Kadet uniform is a huge deal for me. I wanted to do this forever. I’m absolutely ecstatic. I don’t think I’m going to sleep tonight.”

Brown concurred with Gorr.

“This feels amazing,” Brown said. “I just love these guys so much. This is a brotherhood for sure and I wouldn’t want to win this with anybody else.”