High School Sports: New Force In Futbol
Northfield Challenges East in Boys Soccer
Story and photo by Reid Neureiter | For the GPHN
Nighthawk senior Isaias Bonilla controls the ball out of the air during Northfield’s 5-2 win over East on Sept. 30.
Sept. 30 highlighted what may be the passing of the mantle from the DPS team that traditionally was the dominant force in boys soccer — East Angels — to the upstart Northfield Nighthawks.
East has won three Colorado boys state soccer championships, and made two additional 5A finals, most recently in 2023. For its part, Northfield won 4A championships in 2021 and 2022.
Last year, Northfield made the leap to the 5A division, and entered the playoffs with the No. 1 seed before falling in the state semi-finals. With this continued success, the Nighthawks seem poised to dethrone East as the DPS favorite to next take the 5A state title.
Much of the credit goes to Northfield Coach Jason Keever, who has led the program since its founding in 2015. Among Coach Keever’s personal recognitions are those of CHSAA 4A State Coach of the Year, Denver Public Schools Coach of the Year, and the United Soccer Coaches Small Public School (2A, 3A, 4A) Colorado State Coach of the Year. With the Denver schools choice enrollment system, quality soccer players from northeast Denver who historically might have chosen East for a chance at a state title, now have Northfield as attractive option.
On Sept. 30, the 3rd-ranked Nighthawks dominated the 6th-ranked Angels, delivering a thorough 5-2 trouncing of the Angels on Northfield’s home turf.
Northfield dominated possession with a crisp passing game that sliced through the Angel’s midfield. East’s over-the-top running game was no match for the Nighthawk’s deft controlled play. A solo run culminating in a near-post shot and goal early in the second half by Nighthawk senior winger Adrian Rodriguez put Northfield up 3-0, and the game effectively out of reach.
On Oct. 23, however, in the concluding game of the regular season, the Angels bounced back. East delivered a 2-1 hard-fought rematch win over the Nighthawks, giving Northfield its only loss of the regular season. East’s goals came from Senior Gavin Barringer and Junior Jacob Danzer.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Northfield’s record stood at 13-1-1, while East’s record was 11-1-3. Both DPS squads can anticipate deep runs in the state playoffs, which started Oct. 29. Second-round games are Nov. 4.