COLORADO SPRINGS — Three first-time champions and one repeat champion were crowned Saturday at the CHSAA Boys Soccer State Championships at Weidner Field.
Legend won its first state title in 5A, beating Ralston Valley 1-0 on a late goal from Alex Venalonzo, who had not played in the playoffs before Saturday. Jefferson Academy finished an unbeaten season, three years after going winless, with a 1-0 win over DSST: Conservatory Green in 3A. St. John Paul the Great beat defending champion Crested Butte 3-0 for the 2A title in its first season as a CHSAA member.
In 4A, top-seeded Mullen won its second straight title, beating Kent Denver 1-0 on a goal from Alexander Escala with just over three minutes left.
All four championship games were shutouts, and three were decided by a single goal.
Final scores are on the boys soccer scoreboard, and each class’s bracket is linked below.
State Champions
5A: Legend 1, Ralston Valley 0 (first boys soccer title; 15-1-3)
4A: Mullen 1, Kent Denver 0 (second straight, third overall; 18-1-1)
3A: Jefferson Academy 1, DSST: Conservatory Green 0 (first boys soccer title; 18-0-2)
2A: St. John Paul the Great 3, Crested Butte 0 (first state title in any sport, in its first CHSAA season)
5A: Legend 1, Ralston Valley 0
Playing without leading scorer Maximus Wilson, who sat out after a red card in the semifinals, and with senior captain Will Winsor hobbled in the first half, Legend turned to Alex Venalonzo off the bench. With just under nine minutes left, he poked in a loose ball after Ralston Valley keeper Cody Anderson saved a shot from junior Dean Pemberton. Two minutes earlier, Legend junior goalie Camden Bradler had stopped two point-blank chances from Ralston Valley junior Sawyer Lee.
4A: Mullen 1, Kent Denver 0
Senior Alexander Escala scored with just over three minutes left in regulation, finishing a cross from sophomore London Marquardt after senior Liam Sapuppo let it run past him. Kent Denver keeper Max Baker’s free kick from just inside midfield clipped the top of the crossbar in the final seconds. Mullen’s only loss came in its season opener against Evergreen on Aug. 20.
3A: Jefferson Academy 1, DSST: Conservatory Green 0
Three years after going winless, Jefferson Academy completed an 18-0-2 season. Junior Matteo Gagliano headed in a cross from sophomore Arnel Mihidic about 60 minutes in for the only goal, and senior keeper Trevor Chichirico recorded his 17th clean sheet of the season.
2A: St. John Paul the Great 3, Crested Butte 0
Senior Luke Sri, the 2A goals leader, scored on a first-half free kick and added his 40th goal of the season late. Senior Giovanni Chilelli scored the second goal, and sophomore keeper Landon Schlipmann and the back line kept five-time 2A champion Crested Butte off the board.
