Kent Denver won a second-straight championship in Class 3A boys soccer. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
COMMERCE CITY — Kent Denver captured its second consecutive boys soccer state title on Saturday, shutting out Fountain Valley 2-0 and ending with a nearly perfect, yet still undefeated season, at 19-0-1.
The one tie in their record came in mid-September when Fountain Valley came to play, resulting in a 1-1 finish. The matchup nearly two months later looked unsurprisingly similar, even though the Class 3A championship was on the line. Both teams played fast and physical, with equal possession throughout.
Free kicks ruled the game, yet none could connect. Both teams kept poking and prodding at each goal, with goalies Philip Huxel and Ross Rainaldi keeping the game scoreless.
But at nearly 63 minutes into the game, the Fountain Valley Danes made a costly error, fouling halfback Davis Oudet in the box and giving the Sun Devils a penalty kick.
Kent’s lead scorer, Max Gottesfield, took the shot, keeping it on the ground and sending it left past Huxel.
“I was skeptical about taking it but Davis told me to do it and I — well, I just made it,” said Gottesfield, the junior forward who continues to execute on the goal game and game again.
Fountain Valley fans were hopeful of their tenacious squad, but each close free kick, corner, or cross continued to come up short, Rainaldi punching out two potential game changers in those last 17 minutes.
Kent Denver then sealed its win in the last few minutes, finally finishing one of their crosses in the box. Senior halfback Tyler Nowak used his left finesse foot to put it over three defenders while fellow halfback, junior Rory Buck, met the ball in the air to head it perfectly past Huxel. Nowak put the finishing goal in the net at last year’s state championship, as well.
Fountain Valley wraps up its season 15-3-2. The Danes remain winless in their two state championship appearances, the last in 2007. This was Kent’s eighth appearance in the state championship, and second consecutive championship win.
More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Gottesfield will head into his senior year and 2016 season with two back-to-back championships. He adds to his resume with game winning goals in both the semifinals and championship of this year’s state tournament.
“It feels amazing. We just worked hard all year,” said Gottesfield. “We tied this team in the regular season and we just had to keeping working to get it done this time while they continued to put up a really tough fight. It feels so good to have made it again.”
Though the sound structure and experience of Kent Denver took the trophy in this matchup, the hustle and heart from the Fountain Valley Danes was nearly tangible.
Fountain Valley senior midfielder Sam Bermingham seemed to be everywhere on the field. He played with a bandage on head, just missing on crosses and shots on the offensive, and stopping the Sun Devils perfect strikes from reaching goal.
“It was such a great season. I mean, I am so proud to be playing with these kids, for this school,” Bermingham said. “We never thought we were going to make it this far, we never thought we’d be playing on this professional field, or getting second place. It’s an amazing feeling.
“It’s been seven years since our school has made it and it would have been great to win it but second place isn’t that bad. Being next to these players is everything.”