2A girls soccer: Miller’s four goals help deliver Dawson a state title

COLORADO SPRINGS – The highest scoring state championship game in CHSAA girls soccer history went in favor of the Dawson Mustangs, as they took down Telluride, 15-4, on Saturday at Weidner Field to win their second Class 2A title.

Senior Degen Miller, who was a member of Dawson’s 2018 title team, scored four goals in her final high school hoorah. Miller didn’t have to do it all by herself, as Lauren Muniz, Elise Freedman and Helen Leon each netted a hat trick as well.

Head coach David Criswell, who will soon move to Chicago, could tell early on that his final team at Dawson was different.

“Since the first practice we had and the first game we had, I could tell this was a special group,” Criswell said. “Forget their technical skills, I think those stand for themselves, they’re just such a cohesive team.”

The second-seeded Mustangs capped off a 12-1 season with their only loss coming against 4A Northridge. Telluride, meanwhile, came in as the No. 1 seed but fell to 12-1.

The big stage wasn’t an unfamiliar one for Dawson, which has played in every title game since 2A soccer’s conception in 2015. Following a canceled 2020 season, this year’s title game was hosted by the newly-minted Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.

Despite producing the largest goal differential in a Colorado state title game, the Mustangs fell behind early when Telluride freshman Brooke Duncan scored the game’s opening goal. The relinquished goal made for just the second time all year the Mustangs fell behind. Criswell said his team didn’t lose confidence and quickly answered with five straight goals.

Dawson held an 8-3 lead at the half and didn’t let off the gas pedal much in the final 40 minutes. Freedman and senior Maddy Timms each scored to open the second half and induce a running game clock. Madison Shaw also scored in the game.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Miller scored her fourth goal to put Dawson up 12-4. Her Season D playoff run totaled 14 goals including six against Front Range Christian in Round 1. Miller credited her midfield for fueling the offense.

“Our midfield played great today. I think they had great balls,” Miller said. “They were able to find spaces between Telluride’s defense and slip some balls in.”

For both Miller and Criswell, their final game together was bittersweet.

“It (was) our coach’s last game with this team, which means a lot to all of us,” Miller said. “We really wanted to win it for him and we’re all just so happy that we were able to do that.”