The state's best boys soccer game of the year was played Thursday, with Class 5A No. 1-ranked Boulder visiting defending champion Bloomfield.
In the end, the 1-1 tie left a lot of unanswered questions that will likely be debated again at a later date, closer to the postseason.
This week's boys soccer feature looks at the current top two teams in each CHSAA classification.
5A Class
Boulder Panthers: The CHSAA 5A and MaxPreps state No. 1 ranked team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end with a 1-1 tie with Bloomfield on Thursday.
No big deal, the Panthers (6-0-1) are still going strong.
They'll face former front-league rivals No. 33 Fossil Ridge (Tuesday) and No. 11 Fairview (Oct. 1) before taking on the competition in the newly formed 5A/4A Rocky Mountain League.
No other team in their league is ranked in the top 30 in the CHSAA 5A or 4A rankings.
BLOOMFIELD EAGLES: The defending champions had a great start to the season from goaltender Evan Krustad, who allowed just three goals on 41 shots on goal.
The Eagles (7-0-1) held Boulder to just one point Thursday despite the Panthers averaging five points per game, then host No. 49 Rocky Mountain on Tuesday and No. 8 Denver East on Thursday before beginning play in the new Granite Peaks League next week.
The Granite Peaks League currently has four teams ranked in the top 20 in CHSAA 5A, including No. 7 Legacy, No. 11 Fairview and No. 18 Horizon.
Class 4A
Air Academy Cadets: Senior Ben Brown contributed to 13 of the team's 19 goals this season and also had nine goals and four assists of his own.
He is now on a four-game goal streak as the Cadets (6-0-1) face 34th-ranked Ramparts on Tuesday.
Silver Creek Raptors: The Raptors (4-1-1) are off to a strong start this season.
Their only loss came last month against defending 5A champion Bloomfield.
In their first four games, eight different players have scored a goal, and last week they beat the Monarchs, ranked 25th in 5A, 4-2.
They will play at 5A No. 7 ranked Legacy on Oct. 1.
Class 3A
Holy Family Tigers: Oliver Hansen had six goals and two assists for the Tigers (6-0), who are ranked No. 1 in their class in 2023 with a record of 3 wins, 10 losses and two ties.
Last week in a 3-0 win over No. 30 5A Erie, Stefano Curto scored two goals and Hansen one for the Bulls.
On Wednesday they will host DSST: Conservatory Green.
Stargate School Eagles: Is it true that the Eagles came in second?
We'll know more when they face perennial powerhouse Kent Denver on Tuesday.
Through six games, the Eagles (5-0-1) have outscored opponents 26-6. Sophomore Ethan Clem leads the team with seven goals.
According to MaxPreps, Stargate School has not had a winning season since competing as a varsity team in 2018. The school is ranked by the site as the 27th-best team in the state, behind only 3A teams Holy Family, The Academy and KIPP Denver College.
Class 2A
Denver Christian Thunder: The Thunder (6-0-1) reached the semifinals last season but lost to eventual 2A champion Crested Butte.
They've won six of their first seven games this fall and drew with 3A No. 4 Academy last week.
Senior Brady Kindig has scored every game, recording 14 goals and five assists this season.
They visit 3A No. 38 Eagle Ridge Academy on Tuesday.
FORGE CHRISTIAN FURY: The Fury (5-0-1) got six goals and two assists from Thomas Clemens.
Clemens recorded eight goals and six assists in his first three years with the national team.
The Fury started the year with a 2-0 win over 2A No. 4 Vail Mountain and then beat 2023 2A runner-up Bishop Massebeuuf 6-0 last week.
Meanwhile, their only draw this year came last month against Golden, ranked 29th in 4A.
This week they will face 3A No. 14 Prospect Ridge Academy and No. 13 Peak to Peak.
