Ralston Valley girls soccer breezes past Jefferson Academy at the NAAC

ARVADA — Nearly a two-week break between games probably comes at the wrong time for Ralston Valley’s girls soccer team that is off to a hot start.

The Mustangs grabbed their third shutout victory of the season Wednesday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. Ralston Valley blanked Jefferson Academy 3-0, but now the Mustangs won’t get back on the pitch until March 31.

“I wish we had a couple of more games before Spring Break,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said. “But we are a little beat up right now so it is a good time for players to heal and get a little break before going back at it.”

Ralston Valley (3-0 record) is off to a great start with shutout victories against Durango and Rocky Mountain to go along with the Mustangs’ win Wednesday before Jeffco Public Schools’ Spring Break next week.

The shutout string is almost identical to what the Mustangs did last season outscoring their first four opponents 20-0 with four straight shutout wins to begin the season. Ralston Valley has outscored its first three opponents 12-0.

“It is a definite goal that the girls have set. To continue to put pressure on, go at it, go at it,” Coach Morwood said of shutting out teams this season. “Our defense is very solid and fast. Three shutouts is awesome. They’ve played really well.”

Senior Maddie King picked up the shutout in net for Ralston Valley against Jefferson Academy (1-2).

“I’m super confident about where we are at right now,” said Ralston Valley junior Lauren Sabus, who picked up a goal and assist in the win. “Over the season we’ll just get better and put us in a good spot.”

Scoring diversity has been a strong spot for the Mustangs so far.

Against the Jaguars, Ralston Valley had three different goal scorers with sophomore Sonja Engelking, along with juniors Santana Sabus and Lauren Sabus each picking up a goal. Santana and Lauren are cousins.

“It’s insane coming into this game having nine goals scored by eight different people,” Coach Morwood said. “Whether they start or come off the bench they just continue to go at the goal, be consistent and tenacious.”

The Sabus-to-Sabus connection scored the first goal in the 10th minute with Santana converting on a pass from Lauren to give Santana her second goal of the year. Santana had a staggering 24 goals a year ago.

“If there are more girls that score we can be more dynamic,” Lauren Sabus said. “We have many ways to score. It’s not just one way.”

Sophomore Bella Arceneaux picked up a pair of assists. Arceneaux assisted Engelking on her goal in the 26th minute and the goal by Lauren Sabus just before halftime to give Ralston Valley a 3-0 advantage.

If not for the effort of Jefferson Academy junior goalie Bella VanDyke the Mustangs could very well had four or five more goals.

“We wanted to come out really strong and aggressive,” Lauren Sabus said. “That is how we play and it is our identity. We play as a team and play aggressive. That is what we push to do.”

The Mustangs come out of the break with a solid test against the two-time defending Class 4A state champions. Evergreen (1-0-2, 1-0-0 in 4A Jeffco League) will host Ralston Valley at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, up the hill at Evergreen High School.

“Evergreen is always a very good challenge,” Coach Morwood said of facing the Cougars, a team Ralston Valley defeated 4-1 last season for the lone loss for Evergreen on its was to a second straight 4A state title. “It will be a very good game for us.”