Mullen Edges Golden 5-1 in State Semifinal
Mullen, the defending Class 4A champion, advances to the state title game against Kent Denver on Saturday in Colorado Springs.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Soccer
Mullen defeated Golden 5-1 on Wednesday night at Randy Penn Stadium on the Englewood High School campus in the Class 4A boys soccer state semifinal. The win eliminated Golden from the state tournament for the third straight season.
Why it matters
Mullen, the defending state champion with a 17-1-1 record, will face Kent Denver in the Class 4A boys state championship game. Kent Denver earlier defeated Highlands Ranch 1-0 in the other semifinal.
Mullen's 5-1 semifinal win extends its run of dominance over Golden, which it had beaten 1-0 in each of the past two state tournament meetings. Golden finished with a 15-2-2 record, while Mullen closed at 17-1-1 entering the final.
The players
Mullen High School
Mullen is a Denver-area high school whose boys soccer program is the defending Class 4A state champion.
Golden High School
Golden is a Jefferson County high school whose boys soccer team has reached the state tournament in recent seasons.
Kent Denver School
Kent Denver is a private school in the Denver area whose boys soccer team won the 2025 Class 4A title and advanced to this year's championship game.
The details
Kaunda headed in a corner kick in the 27th minute to open the scoring, and Sapuppo added a goal in the 35th minute for a 2-0 halftime lead. Cade Nauslar pulled one back for Golden in the 47th minute, but Mullen scored three times between the 59th and 61st minutes, with all three second-half goals coming off long throw-ins by Sedita. Mullen goalie Elliott Lippman made a diving save on a Golden penalty kick in the 16th minute.
Timeline
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Mullen defeats Golden 5-1 in the Class 4A state semifinal at Englewood.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Kent Denver defeats Highlands Ranch 1-0 in the second Class 4A semifinal.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 3 p.m.: Class 4A state championship game at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
Season Trajectory
Mullen's win extends its streak of eliminating Golden from the state tournament to three consecutive seasons. The result positions Mullen for a second straight state title appearance against Kent Denver, which it had beaten 2-1 earlier this season.
The Class 4A title game will determine whether Mullen repeats as state champion. Fans planning to attend can view the match Saturday afternoon at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
The takeaway
Mullen's dominance over Golden across multiple state tournaments shows how consistent programs can sustain competitive advantages, while Saturday's final will test whether that edge holds against Kent Denver.
What happens next
The Class 4A state championship game between Mullen and Kent Denver is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
Further reading
Find more high school results in our Soccer coverage.
