Molina’s goal seals it for Tigers in extra time

3A SOCCER>> HOLY FAMILY 1, JEFFERSON ACADEMY 0, OT

Holy Family’s Jesus Molina, center, Dubemchi Tetenta, left, and Oliver Hansen celebrate after defeating Jefferson Academy in overtime during the Class 3A state championship game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. MATTHEW JONAS — DAILY CAMERA

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By Alissa Noe

BoCoPreps.com

COMMERCE CITY >> The moment that Jesus Molina’s goal tickled the back of the net at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, only one thing went through Holy Family head coach Ted Hansen’s mind: “Finally! Finally! Thank you!”

The lone, overtime goal of their 1-0 victory over No. 2 Jefferson Academy sealed the top-seeded Tigers’ first Class 3A state championship — in just their second-ever appearance in a state title game. None of these players had been born yet the last time a Holy Family team nearly went all the way (in 2003).

Molina only needed 2 minutes, 18 seconds of the first overtime to take home the gold. The senior was no stranger to state championship glory, having won it with Colorado Academy just a couple of years earlier.

“I didn’t think it was real at first,” Molina said. “I saw Ollie (Hansen) taking the ball forward. I have no doubt he’s going to take the defenders on. I make eye contact with him. I just see him. I scream (for) the ball. He gives me a perfect ball. All I have to do is just tap it in.”

Leading up to that final dagger, neither Holy Family nor Jefferson Academy could outwit the other’s defense. The Tigers controlled much of the pace of play, sure, but the good looks that the Jaguars allowed were few and far between.

It only took one.

“I think it was our counterattack and breaking the line,” Molina explained. “I was 100% sure our back line wasn’t going to let any (goals) go. They’ve been phenomenal this season. Matt (Napierkowski), Achi (Tetenta), Max (Davisson), and Dube (Tetenta) have just been clamps this whole season. They’ve kept us alive.”

The finale of the fall soccer season brought quite the contrast to the 2023 campaign for both teams, who combined for three wins. New head coaches made all of the difference in rewriting their cultures and their own destinies.

Holy Family played through an incredibly tough schedule but only faltered to two of the top 4A teams en route to their 16-2-2 finish. The Jaguars, after completing their 2023 slate with zero wins, leveled out with 15 this year.

Jefferson Academy sophomore Mason Spicer attributed the monumental shift to the reemergence of head coach Matt Cassell, who took last year off following a state title appearance in 2021. Between the boys’ and girls’ programs at JA, Cassell has been to the state championship five total times.

“There’s just a lot more determination, a lot more team spirit,” Spicer said. “We connected a lot more and I’m just so proud of this team. The way we turned around from zero to I think it was (15) wins, including playoffs, I’m just so proud of the group.”

As for the Tigers, Hansen begins his tenure on the highest note possible. He can’t wait to see what year two will hold.

“I told the seniors at the start of the season, the best gift they can give to the program is to reset the culture and get Holy Family soccer to be something that people want to be a part of and something that’s important in the school,” Hansen said. “If they leave that gift, that’s going to last for a really long time. Not only did they get to take the championship away; they’re champions forever.”