The Steamboat Soccer Club U18 boys team is entering uncharted territory, but the boys are constantly reminded to own their own journey. 

On Sunday, the boys were crowned Colorado Presidents Cup champions, becoming the first team to do so from the Steamboat Soccer Club in history. 

The Colorado Presidents Cup is open to teams who compete in the Colorado Soccer Association League. Winners of the Presidents Cup have the opportunity to represent Colorado at the regional and then national stage — it is effectively a club state championship. 

Cup play began in late March with the group stage. Steamboat lost the first of its three group stage games but won the next two to advance to the semifinal knockout round. 

Their semifinal opponent? Colorado Rush East, the same team that defeated Steamboat in the first group stage game. 

Semis was scheduled for April 27, the last day of spring break in Steamboat Springs. All the players were flying back into Denver from their vacations, meeting up for an eventual 3-0 domination over Colorado Rush East in Aurora. Revenge was sweet and the boys were headed to the championship game. 

Pinned against Arsenal Colorado, a team from Fort Collins, coach Hobey Early said Steamboat was not too focused on the opponent. 

“We worry about ourselves and try to approach every game with the assumption that we are going to dominate the game and be the better team …” Early said. “We try to instill the confidence in the players as well.” 

In Sunday morning’s championship game, Early felt the Steamboat offense dominated the opening half. 

Steamboat runs a 4-3-3 formation — meaning four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. Cesar Chavez, who plays in the front three, beat a defender within the first 10 minutes, ripping a shot off the crossbar. 

Ball possession is a big part of the team’s strategy and Early said Chavez’s move proved that the team would dictate the pace of play. 

“If we have the ball we can move the ball forward, and if we can move the ball forward, then we can score goals,” Early said. 

“If we have it, then they don’t,” coach Joey Rind added. “Generally because we are so fit and mountain kids, we run them and beat them into the ground.”

Steamboat went into the half with a 1-0 lead off a set piece goal from Nathan Rind. Nathan added a second set piece goal off his head early in the second half to give Steamboat a 2-0 lead. 

Arsenal Colorado began playing more direct and had to chase the game with an offensive attack. They scored and threatened several more times, but Steamboat managed to hold off the attack for the 2-1 victory. 

“Among the many standout players was senior Nolan Laird, named team MVP for his leadership, consistency, and impact throughout the tournament,” said Club Director Linda John in a news release.

Steamboat took time to celebrate the state championship but must quickly regain focus. The job is not finished. 

The U18 boys team has qualified for the Far West Presidents Cup Regional Championship, held June 13-17 in Boise, Idaho. The boys will take on the top teams from across the western U.S. with a chance to advance to the Youth National Presidents Cup in mid-July in Florida. 

Meanwhile, the team has a number of league games and training to focus on. Sure, it’s a lot of soccer but the truth is, for these guys, it’s never enough. 

“We say to the boys every day at the start of training — you have to have fun, you have to get a little bit better and you have to be respectful to each other,” Early said. “These guys enjoy it, they have a blast, work hard and want to get better.”