Ralston Valley girls soccer one win away from 5A Jeffco League three-peat

ARVADA — One more Class 5A Jeffco League victory and Ralston Valley will become conference champions for a third straight season.

The Mustangs shutout rival Arvada West 3-0 on Monday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. Ralston Valley (8-1-2, 3-0-1 in league) can clinch a three-peat with a victory against Columbine (7-0-3, 2-0-1) at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 23, back at the NAAC.

“It always seems to come down to that,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said of facing Columbine with the league title on the line. “We want to have two good practices and go into Thursday with all the confidence we can muster up. Go after it to hopefully get that third one.”

The Rebels finished second to the Mustangs last year. A 1-0 Ralston Valley win over Columbine in the league finale decided the conference champion.

Columbine faces Valor Christian (4-5-1, 2-1-0) tomorrow (Tuesday, April 21) in Highlands Ranch. A win over Valor would create a winner-take-all situation on Thursday at NAAC.

Ralston Valley took care of its own business staying undefended in league play and running its winning streak against rival A-West to four games. The Wildcats and Mustangs tied 1-1 back in the Spring of 2022.

“It was awesome. I’m just glad we were able to finish the job,” Ralston Valley senior Sammi Madden said playing in likely her final rivalry game against A-West. “We came out here knowing (A-West) was going to come out strong with it being a rivalry game and our Senior Night. There is a lot of emotion. We are glad we powered through.”

Ralston Valley took an early 1-0 lead on a corner kick goal by junior Lauren Sabus. The junior bent the ball right to the goal mouth and A-West senior goalie Zoe McConnel attempted to punch the ball out of danger, but the ball went into the back of the net in the 8th minute.

A-West (6-5-1, 1-3-0) nearly tied the game in the 55th minute, but a shot from sophomore Gemma Williams rocked off the crossbar.

“We have been talking about grit for a long time,” Coach Morwood said of playing in another tight game this season. “These Monday games are just tough. I feel like our Mondays we are just a little bit slower. We just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

Sophomore Sonja Engelking was able to give the Mustangs some breathing room with a hardworking goal getting her own rebound off an initial shot in the 70th minute to push the lead to 2-0.

“There was a lot of energy from the bench and from the team,” Engelking said of the emotion after the insurance goal. “I just wanted to put it away and secure our win.”

It was the fourth goal of the season for Engelking and her first in league play.

“Sonja’s composure to move it to her left foot and put it in the back of the net was awesome,” Coach Morwood said of Engelking’s game sealing goal. “That is what we need at that time for it not to come down to the final five minutes in a 1-0 game.”

Minutes later, Ralston Valley pushed the lead to 3-0 on a perfectly placed direct free kick from near midfield by Madden. The senior defender was able to get it into the goalie box where junior Santana Sabus was able to head the ball out of the reach of McConnel.

“Sometime I just kick it and pray. I know someone it going to get there head on it on the other side,” Madden said of her assist on the final goal of the game.

Ralston Valley has seven shutout wins this season to go along with a pair of scoreless ties. The Mustangs have given up just two goals against in 11 games.

“We take a lot of pride in our defense. We have great communication back there,” Madden said. “We have played together for so long. We just know each other so well and how to work together.”