DENVER >> Broomfield goalie Evan Kulstad pointed to both sides of his temple, repeatedly using the expression “mental fortress” when describing how the Eagles pulled off their stunning, 2-1 Class 5A semifinals win over Boulder on Wednesday.

“We knew it would get tough,” the senior keeper said. “We had to be fearless today.”

Resilient, too.

Panthers phenom Xander Sevian said No. 2 Boulder had “chance after chance after chance” to break a 1-1 halftime draw — and he wasn’t kidding. Yet not only did No. 3 Broomfield survive a series of near-misses from 5A’s top scoring offense, it responded with a late winner from senior Joziah Garron Guillen.

Guillen headed in Arshia Khodaee’s corner kick with 2:33 remaining in regulation, sending the defending champion Eagles back to the finals to defend their crown. They’ll look to add to their state-most nine titles in boys soccer when they face No. 4 Cherry Creek at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday at 2 p.m.

“I see Arshia’s cross and I’m like, ‘This is my time,’” Guillen played it back. “I head it — and what do you know? It’s a goal.”

Broomfield’s latest winner halted what had been a historically good season by the Panthers (17-1-1), who came into a cold night at DU on the back of nine straight shutouts, which included outscoring their first three postseason opponents 17-0.

Boulder was two wins away from another undefeated season. It finished 20-0 in 2016, beating Broomfield in a 5A-finals shootout for its second title in program history.

“Life is about disappointments and the joys. And the purpose is, I think, to see how you respond and the character that comes out of that,” Boulder coach Hardy Kalisher said. “I don’t go in there and say, ‘Don’t feel pain.’ I said, ‘Feel it, feel it because you earned it. You earned the opportunity to feel these disappointments.’ And years from now, if not months, weeks, at some point they’re going to feel tremendous pride and joy.”

With the teams meeting for the first time since drawing 1-1 in September, they again couldn’t separate themselves after trading goals in Wednesday’s first half.

Sevian scored in a fourth straight playoff game, in the 21st minute. His PK was set up by a foul on David Bojorquez in the box, and he sent it perfectly into the top left corner of the net, giving Kulstad no real chance for a save.

The Clemson commit, who missed his junior season to play in Major League Soccer’s junior development league, finished the fall with 24 goals and 26 assists.

To put that in perspective: Sevian’s 74 points are the most in the state’s largest classification since former Rangeview player Rashid Seidu-Aroza had 90 in 2019. His 26 assists were one shy of tying Adams City’s Angel Guerrero for the most since he had 27 in 2011, the last year reliable records go back on MaxPreps.

“I think every year at Boulder High, we have an advantage because it feels like, different from other places I’ve played; there’s another level of love and effort on this team,” Sevian said. “And this year in particular, we just had a lot of talented players.”

Broomfield (16-2-1) tied things on Adam Thresher’s goal in the 30th minute. No. 10 on the season for the senior, he found a crossing ball in the box and put it past Boulder keeper Aden Heath.

After halftime, Boulder took command to put Broomfield on its heels. But the Eagles were the ones who found the winning touch.

“In a game like this where admittedly we’re surviving a little bit, you just got to score that one chance when it comes,” Broomfield coach Zachary Hindman said. “And we were lucky enough to do that tonight.”