The Boulder High Boys Soccer Team looked strong in their home opener and first game of the year, beginning the season with a 2-1 win over Heritage High School. Coming off a 17-1-1 season last year, as well as a top 15 national ranking, the Panthers are ready to claim back their title from last year as the No. 1 team in the state.
15 members of the Panthers squad graduated after the 2024 season, so this year, the team consists of only 11 returning players out of a 25-person squad. Of those 11, only two started last year.
A team consisting of only two previous varsity starters comes with challenges, but the team has been working tirelessly all summer to build its chemistry. Since the week before school started, they have been practicing together five days per week. Before that, the team had been practicing three times a week since the beginning of July.
Their work paid off on the field on August 26th, where their chemistry was evident. Levi Turner ‘26 opened up the scoring with a 1v1 with the Heritage goalie. He buried the ball in the far corner, making the game 1-0 for Boulder. Despite a penalty kick allowing Heritage to equalize the game, the Panthers stayed calm, and it was clear to the stands full of fans that the team wouldn’t back down.
The student section only got “rowdier” after the PK scored by Heritage. La Familia quickly shifted to a 4-2-4 formation to pressure Heritage with a strong attack, and it paid off. Three-year varsity member, one of the only returning players, Mikel Mackey ‘26, used the offense-minded formation to his advantage and scored, putting the Panthers up 2-1. After the goal, captains Zac Sheinbaum ‘26, James Quesenberry ‘26, Will Weber ‘26, and Mackey kept the team composed until the final whistle was blown, marking Boulder High Boys Soccer’s first win of the 2025 season.
After the game, Coach Hardy Kalisher said, “Every team and every season is different. The boys of La Familia 2025 are going to be playing an exciting style of soccer rooted in high pressure and maximum effort. They are locked in, and every game matters. Every practice matters. Every team dinner matters. They play for more than each other. They play for Boulder! And they take that very seriously.”
After the win on August 26th, the Panthers are officially the winningest 5A program in Colorado since 2009. This means that no boys’ soccer team in 5A has more wins, more goals scored, or fewer losses than La Familia.
The Boulder High Boys Soccer team is shaping up to have an unforgettable season. Catch more of the action from a powerhouse Panthers squad at their next home game on September 25th vs Salesianum. The cross-town rivalry vs Fairview happens at Fairview on September 30th. Show up and show out!
