COMMERCE CITY – Back-to-back champs.
The Kent Denver girls soccer team captured the 2022 3A championship with a commanding 3-0 victory over No. 2 Jefferson Academy Tuesday evening, May 24, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The win was the second title in a row for the Sun Devils. Overall, it was the seventh girls soccer championship in program history, and the sixth state title for the program since 2000. It was the first, however, for new Kent Denver head coach Chelsie Flagg, who took over prior to the 2022 season.
“Taking over a program and a team like this, it was truly a dream job,” Flagg said. “It was a lot of pressure to step in to coach a team with so many seniors that won state last year. The hard work that these girls do day in and day out, they pour every bit of themselves into every practice, every game, and I’m just so proud of them.”
Kent Denver got it done with the same recipe they did all season, a potent offense and lock down defense. They finished the season outscoring their opponents, 112-5. It was the 15th shutout of the 2022 campaign, including each of the five postseason games.
As they have all season, the two headed attack of seniors Izzy Newton and Maria Romo-Nichols led the offense, as Newton finished with a pair, while Romo-Nicolos added the third. They finished the season with 39 and 34 goals, respectively.
After both teams spent the first few minutes of the game feeling each other out, the Sun Devils broke the ice at the 32:58 mark, as Newton bent a corner kick over the head of the goalie to make it 1-0. A few minutes later, Maria Romo-Nichols took advantage of a perfect pass in front of the net and buried it home to double the lead.
After a semifinal game which Kent Denver won in OT, 1-0, the two early goals was a welcome change of pace.
“Lutheran definitely gave us a run for our money,” Flagg stated. “When we put goals away quick, we have so much speed and such a potent attacking threat, that when Izzy and Maria get going, it’s hard to stop us. If we don’t score those, I think it’s a different game, but they just know how to score”
Kent Denver closed out the half with goal number three, as Newton got her second on a PK in the 35th minute, giving the Sun Devils the big 3-0 advantage into the half.
If the first half was about the potent Sun Devil attack, the second half was all about the defense, as Kent Denver methodically worked the clock down, possessing the ball for a majority of the 40 minutes, and never really giving up many good looks on their own net.
“Our back line is second to none,” Flagg added. “They are truly a brick wall. Kaci and Rose lead us back there, and then with Stella, Chava, Lyla and Claire, there’s just no beating them.”
For the Jefferson Academy Jaguars, it was the fourth championship game appearance in program history. They now have three runner-up finishes, as well as a title that came back in 2018.