By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
A shiny, new state championship trophy was on display at Covington Catholic High School on Sunday when perspective students and their parents toured the campus during an open house.
On Saturday night, CovCath became the first Northern Kentucky high school to win a state title in boys’ soccer by defeating Lexington Henry Clay, 3-0, in the season finale at Dunbar High School in Lexington.
The victory capped an exceptional season for the Colonels, who set new team records for most wins (24), most shutouts (16) and most goals scored (109) behind the leadership of nine senior starters.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said CovCath senior defender Ben Darpel. “It’s the epitome of everything I worked for and the team has worked for. I mean, a state championship, nothing is ever going to top that.”
Northern Kentucky boys’ soccer teams had an 0-8 record in state championship games before the Colonels broke that losing streak on Saturday.
The CovCath players knew they had a chance to make history, but coach Jeremy Robertson didn’t say anything about it before they took the field.
“There’s so much pressure on student athletes these days that I just told them all I wanted them to do was play hard,” Robertson said. “I honestly knew, and they knew as well, if they played their game they were going to be OK.”
During the post-season playoffs, CovCath posted a shutout in six of its nine victories with a senior back line that included Darpel, Austin Flynn, Ryan Massie and Ben Thieman helping senior goalkeeper Sam Romes protect the net.
They were the reason Henry Clay managed to get only one shot on goal in each half during the state championship game.
“I really think in the playoffs we gelled more than we have all season,” Darpel said of the defensive unit. “Overall, I think our whole team just found a groove.”
Senior forward Jacob Litzler scored off an assist by junior midfielder Griffin Lamb to give CovCath a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute of the championship game. The same two players produced another goal later in the half when Lamb took a pass from Litzler and slipped the ball into the net.
Lamb made it 3-0 by scoring an unassisted goal off a rebound with 11 minutes left on the clock. After the final whistle sounded, CovCath’s players ran across the field to celebrate the victory with a large contingent of classmates, family members, friends and alumni who made the trip to Lexington.
“The support we got through the whole tournament was just unreal,” coach Robertson said. “That’s something that these guys are never going to forget.”
The CovCath players named to the state all-tournament team were Darpel, Romes and senior forward Bryce Day, who received the MVP Award. They are three of the 18 seniors who were on this year’s roster.
“Some of those guys never got to see the field (in playoff games), but they’ve all been putting in the work since freshman year,” Darpel said. “”I’m just grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to play with them.”
BOYS’ SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES INVOLVING LOCAL TEAMS
2015 – Covington Catholic 3, Lexington Henry Clay 0
2014 – Bowling Green 6, Scott 4
2011 – Louisville St. Xavier 3, Ryle 0
2008 – Louisville St. Xavier 7, Highlands 2
2006 – Bowling Green 2, Ryle 1
1999 – Louisville Ballard 3, St. Henry 0
1998 – Louisville Trinity 4, Covington Catholic 0
1987 – Louisville Ballard 4, Dixie Heights 0
1983 – Louisville Male 3, Covington Catholic 2