Directed by Jim Davidson, soccer at Broomfield shines
It’s the home stretch of another Colorado high school soccer season, and once again, a Jim Davidson-led Broomfield side is at the top of the championship discussion.
After guiding the Broomfield boys to a state runner-up showing in the fall, Davidson now has the girls (9-1, 7-0 Front Range League) at the front of the Class 5A title chase, as the No. 1 Eagles’ lone setback so far came at the hands of No. 2 Cherry Creek on Saturday.
It’s the latest chapter of a storied novel that’s become Davidson’s career, who started as the Broomfield boys coach in 1997 and began coaching the girls the next season. Since then, the boys have won six state titles and the girls, the 2006 4A state champions and the 2015 5A state runner-up, are now pressing for their first 5A crown.
Between both programs, Davidson has made 28 semifinal appearances and amassed more than 600 victories as Broomfield has become the best overall soccer school in the state.
But ask him about his coaching achievements, and the Chicago-area native who moved to Denver to ski and hike serves up a nice slice of humble pie.
“This year we have a great combination of experience and youth, and our leadership early on this spring has been terrific and re-energized us a bit,” Davidson said. “So all the success goes to the players, because there’s a lot of energy in the squad right now.”
Defensively, the Eagles have been nearly flawless, yielding just four goals — half came in the 2-0 setback to the high-powered Bruins — as junior keeper Grace Fuller, senior Cara Quinn and sophomore Marina Davidson lead a back line that puts a priority on discipline and winning 50-50 balls.
“Three of our four backs are returning starters, so the experience across the back line has been really beneficial,” Davidson said. “And with a really good keeper who knows how to communicate, we’ve done well so far keeping the ball in front of us.”
And offensively, junior striker Hailey Stodden stars with 18 goals so far, while juniors Ashley Tuccio and Valerie Ulsh give the Eagles the depth to contend in the postseason with two-time defending champion Grandview, Cherry Creek and others.
“Hailey, at times, has clearly put the team on her back,” Davidson said. “But as good as Hailey is, she doesn’t have to win games for us all the time, because we have a lot of other players that are capable of making the difference in a close game.”
As for how Davidson manages to keep his programs as perennial state title contenders? That, the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America coach of the year says, is dependent upon each class passing the winning tradition on down to the next.
“Every year, the kids come in and understand the expectation is really high,” Davidson said. “And the players who graduate, they leave a legacy of expectation that their younger peers realize they need to reach and then exceed, if possible.” Kyle Newman: 303-954-1773 knewman@denverpost.com or @KyleNewmanDP