The Summit High School boys soccer team knew at the beginning of the season that every game was going to matter in its pursuit of making the 2024 Class 4A state soccer playoffs.

The Tigers went on a three-game winning streak to begin the month of October, but a loss to Glenwood Springs High School on Oct. 18 ultimately pushed the team into a position where winning the final two games of the regular season was important to secure a playoff spot.  

Following the loss to Glenwood, Summit hosted Rifle High School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, where the team battled hard through the entirety of the 80-minute match. In the end, Summit could not find an answer to Rifle’s rollicking offense, falling 7-4.

Not wanting to drop a third-straight game to potentially end the season, Summit regrouped and took on Wheat Ridge High School on Friday, Oct. 25, for the team’s senior night game.

Coming into the game ranked 29th in 4A, Summit began play with energy and an air of confidence in the team’s ability. Summit’s conviction ultimately paid off with an early offensive opportunity when senior captain Juan Varon found senior Dayl Villegas with a precise pass over the Wheat Ridge Farmers’ defense. 

The ball then rocketed off the foot of Villegas, but it was deflected by a Wheat Ridge defender to keep the game scoreless. Despite failing to find the back of the net, Summit continued to chase after a goal.

Two minutes after the first major offensive opportunity for the Tigers, senior Nico Novotny pressed the opposing defense and poked the ball to senior Griffin Gamboa. Gamboa then dribbled through the Wheat Ridge defense and fired a shot, which drifted into the back of the net, giving Summit a 1-0 lead. 

Following the goal, Wheat Ridge started to play quicker, which led to the team creating its first scoring chance. Wheat Ridge sent a header towards Summit junior goalie Johan Gomez, but the scoring chance was reeled in and kept from finding the net.

Led by senior captain Reece Bosgraaf and senior Dillon Butson, the Summit defense continued to defend the net before clearing the ball down the field. Varon created another scoring opportunity, but his shot flew high of the crossbar and out of bounds.

Gaining confidence from the pressure it was putting on the Wheat Ridge defense, Summit started attacking the net more feverishly. Following a deflected shot, Varon set up for a corner kick, which he sent in the direction of the Summit offense in front of the goal.

As the ball was approaching the goal area, Novotny rose up for perfectly timed a header, which bounced wide of Wheat Ridge, giving Summit a 2-0 lead.

Wheat Ridge tried to find a goal before halftime but was kept at bay by the Summit defense. Summit led 2-0 at the midway point of the game. 

Trailing by two goals, Wheat Ridge controlled the midfield in the early part of the second half and  created a scoring opportunity off a short corner kick. The ball managed to find its way past Gomez, but it was soon waved off by the officials since Wheat Ridge was offsides.

After Villegas and senior Ryder Nazzarine had properly defended the net for the majority of the second half, Summit was reduced to only having 10 men on the field after a second yellow card. 

Not wanting to blow the game, Summit dug deep and continued to defend the net. In the end, Summit’s sustained effort throughout the game was enough to secure a senior-night shutout win, defeating Wheat Ridge 2-0.

With an overall record of 7-7-1, Summit secured a 27th seed in the 4A state soccer playoffs. The playoff berth marks the first for head coach JJ Bosgraaf since he took over the reins of the program in 2023.

The last time Summit made the playoffs was in 2022 when the team advanced all the way to the state semi-final match before falling to Northfield High School. 

Summit will face No. 6 Longmont High School on Thursday, Oct. 31, in Longmont. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.