COLORADO SPRINGS – Winning doesn’t get any easier.

In fact, Colorado Academy girls soccer coach Sean Stedeford would argue that case is the exact opposite.

The No. 3-seeded Mustangs entered Switchbacks Weidner Field on Tuesday afternoon as back-to-back Class 3A state champions – yet underdogs whose hopes of three-peating were threatened by No. 1 seed Kent Denver.

“The girls had a lot more to work through this year. The path wasn’t easy,” he said on the field after his team answered the challenge with a 2-1 victory. “It means a lot. It shows the strength of our soccer program. We can’t be more proud of these kids.”

Colorado Academy now stands second among all Colorado schools with eight state championships in program history. The Mustangs trail only Arapahoe (9) by one.

But just like the path to the title, Colorado Academy had to grind out the title game.

Both Kent Denver and Colorado Academy were locked in a defensive battle on Tuesday – going into the halftime break scoreless.

Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools

Shortly into the second half, Kent Denver was awarded a free kick in the 45th minute that junior Kyky O’Connor air-mailed in from long range. Colorado Academy goalkeeper Hannah Hyatt mishandled the save, which was hammered home by freshman Josie Solot for just the third goal of her high school career.

That lead, however, was short-lived.

Colorado Academy was swift to respond just over a minute later.

The Mustangs had been led by senior captain Lyla Kocher all season long, and she came through in the final game for the Mustangs. Kocher shredded the Kent Denver defense in the 46th minute and delivered an emphatic left-foot strike to tie the game at one apiece, thanks to an assist from fellow senior Layne Ballenger.

“We relaxed and gained composure and believed we could come back once we got scored on. It’s a belief thing,” Kocher said. “We all have that belief in each other and these past years have been a ride like that.”

Her championship effort didn’t stop there.

Kocher lined up for a free kick from about 20 yards out in the 48th minute with a chance to cement her legacy.
The wall of Sun Devil defenders in front of her could only watched as the ball sailed around them, bending past their goaltender for the game-winning goal – her 30th of the season.

Perhaps her performance was fueled by one of the Mustangs’ regular-season losses. Colorado Academy rode a nine-game winning streak in route to the championship, but last was defeated at home, 1-0, at home by Kent Denver.

Colorado Academy finishes the season with a 15-5 overall record, while Kent Denver went as 16-3-1as runner-up.

“It’s winning, but three times over,” Kocher said with a laugh. “It’s amazing. I love this program and everything it’s done for me. It’s going to mean so much to give back to it.”