LAKEWOOD — Ralston Valley boys soccer took the driver’s seat for the Class 5A Jeffco League title Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field.
The Mustangs dominated Lakewood 6-0 to take sole possession of the conference with two league games remaining for the two-time defending 5A Jeffco League champs.
“Going into it we thought it would be a closer game of course,” Ralston Valley junior Dylan Chambers said. “The score just kept increasing.”
Coming into Tuesday’s critical conference showdown, Ralston Valley (10-0-1, 3-0-0 in league) had outscored its first 10 opponents 32-3. The only blemish was a tie 1-1 against Regis back on Aug. 26.
The Mustangs are now on a 9-game winning streak heading into the final few weeks of the regular season and alone atop of the conference standings.
“It means a lot to us,” Ralston Valley coach John Doody said of the conference title. “We are very determined about just thinking about that next game against Valor. The Jeffco League means everything to us.”
Chambers got the scoring started against Lakewood (6-3-0, 1-1-0) in the 26th minute with a header on a rebound from a shot by senior Ethan Orchard.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
“I think it’s about being in the right place at the right time,” Chambers said of his third goal of the season. “I’m always trying to find myself in the right position.”
Orchard gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute and Ralston Valley sophomore Noah Kapustka converted a penalty kick a minute later to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead at halftime.
“There was some amazing individual qualities tonight,” Doody said after the Mustangs’ fourth straight shutout victory. “Whether it was Ethan (Orchard) or Dylan (Chambers). There was some real skill there.”
Ralston Valley actually drew three penalty kicks in the game and were a perfect 3-for-3 on the kicks from the mark.
“I think we did that really well as a team,” Chambers said of applying pressure deep in Lakewood’s defensive zone that led the three penalty kicks. “We bring the intensity. We bring the strength. The technical abilities.”
It was more of the same in the second half. Orchard scored his second goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 55th minute. Kapustka managed a hat-trick with goals in the 56th and 59th minute to extend the lead to 6-0.
Kapustka has been deaf since birth and recently has a story about his soccer journey on the 9News Prep Rally. It was the first goals of varsity high school career.
“He (Kapustka) has been waiting to open up his account,” Doody said of the sophomore scoring his first three goals of the season. “He is so skillful. He put on a great show tonight.”
Kapustka came off the bench and played 25 minutes during his hat-trick performance.
“It is so cool. He opened his account as John (Coach Doody) would say,” Chambers said of Kapustka’s hat-trick. “It’s great to see him shining on the field.”
Ralston Valley closes out its conference schedule with home games at the North Area Athletic Complex against Valor (Oct. 7) and Columbine (Oct. 14). The Mustangs will have a pair of plus-2 non-league games against Jeffco foes Oct. 17 and Oct. 21 before starting its postseason run.
Lakewood has league games remaining against Valor, Columbine and Arvada West, along with a non-league game at Cherry Creek on Oct. 9.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
