Niwot boys soccer stacked with talent in 2021

Just months before the pandemic hit, the Niwot boys soccer team completed its fall 2019 season with a shining 11-6 record and second place finish in the 4A Northern League. Pending a possible snow cancellation, the Cougars will return to the pitch on March 18, 499 days after losing to Golden in the second round of the 2019 4A playoffs.

Several impact players from that 2019 team will give it another shot in 2021. Fifth-year head coach Stephen Dimit will enjoy nine seniors on his 23-man roster including Aidan Martin, Keegan Stobbe, Ismael Dominguez, Carter Kruse, Connor Grant and Mason Wright; all of whom hold experience from last season.

Stobbe returns as Niwot’s highest scorer with 22 points last year while Martin was second on the team with eight goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Javier Amaya saved 4.3 shots per game as a freshman starter and will man the net once again.

“We return some really, really good players from the past couple years, some guys with a lot of experience,” Dimit said.

He added that Niwot returns its entire frontline, but its backline will need a few younger players to step up.

It has been a chaotic year and a half for the Niwot soccer team which included its typical fall season being postponed to a shortened 10-game spring season. For Dimit, his goals revolve around ensuring no further games get scratched.

“I'm just really glad to get a season for that senior group. It has been hard work to get it going,” he said. “I think our expectations are different this year. The goal is to get out and play as many games as we can because they haven't had that.”

Some Niwot players opted to play on a club team in the fall but their season was canceled midway through according to Dimit. With so few opportunities to meet in person, Dimit said they’re cherishing this season a little extra.

“We made it a priority over the past year to keep this program connected, talking to each other at the very least, (and) playing when we're allowed to together,” Dimit said. “I think to have a bunch of guys who were willing to come out and just kind of play without the promise of games, and just see each other, and build that community, I think it's paying off right now.”

The Cougars will play in a mixed 3A/4A Longs Peak League with nine league games and one non-league game against the defending 4A state champion Skyview on March 20. As of March 14, Niwot will host Fort Morgan on March 18 if field conditions allow.

Niwot will also field a 22-man junior varsity team led by veteran assistant coach Brett Butrick.