ENGLEWOOD — To hear Becca Morales describe it, the scenario was obvious.
“Kent Denver has knocked us out of the playoffs two years in a row. Somehow I knew for us to win the final game, we would have to beat Kent Denver,” the St. Mary’s junior midfielder said.
Now, thanks to Julia Saenz, that scenario is a reality, and St. Mary’s is one win away from a Class 3A state girls soccer championship after a 1-0 victory Thursday night at Pirate Field on the campus of Englewood High School.
Saenz, who holds the school record for goals in a season and career, headed in a pass from Morales in the 76th minute to break the deadlock and end Kent Denver’s two-year stranglehold on the title.
The second the ball was passed to her, Saenz said, she knew it was now or never.
“Probably one of the best (goals) of my career,” Saenz said.
The win sends the Pirates (15-3) to Saturday’s championship game, also at Englewood High, against Faith Christian. But it may never have been possible if not for Saenz, and her team knows it.
“When you’ve got a 25-goal scorer, who’s going to win the game for you but the 25-goal scorer?” St. Mary’s head coach Gregg Braha said.
Kent Denver 0 0 — 0
St. Mary’s (Colo. Springs)0 1 — 1
Goals — SM: J. Saenz (B. Morales), 76th minute.
Shots on goal — Kent Denver 6, St. Mary’s 16. Saves — Kent Denver (Bennett) 6, St. Mary’s (Loof) 5. Offsides — Kent Denver 0-0 — 0; St. Mary’s 0-0 — 0. Corner kicks — Kent Denver 1-0 — 1; St. Mary’s 1-2 — 3. Fouls — Kent Denver 10, St. Mary’s 7. Yellow cards — None.
Faith Christian 3, Peak to Peak 0.
Athena Lopez, Kelsey McCaslin and Shelby Ward scored second-half goals as the Eagles advanced to their third state final in four years.
The top-seeded Eagles, who have given up just one goal in three tournament games, will be vying for their third state championship in seven seasons Saturday. They won the 3A title in 2002 and 2005.
The loss was the second in two meetings this year for Peak to Peak (11-4-2), which dropped a 5-1 decision to the Eagles during the regular season.
Peak to Peak 0 0 — 0
Faith Christian0 3 — 3
Goals – FC: A. Lopez (K. Fonte), 44th minute; K. McCaslin (A. Lopez), 65th minute; S. Ward (A. Lukens), 75th minute.
Shots on goal — Peak to Peak 8, Faith Christian 15. Saves – Peak to Peak (Frantz) 12, Faith Christian (Bartusek) 8. Offsides — Peak to Peak 0-0 — 0; Faith Christian 0-1 — 1. Corner kicks — Peak to Peak 1; Faith Christian 5. Fouls — Peak to Peak 6, Faith Christian 14. Yellow cards — None.
