LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind the offense of Griffin Lamb and Jacob Litzler and a stingy defense, the Covington Catholic High School boys soccer team completed a dominant season Saturday night.
Lamb had two goals and an assist and Litzler had a goal and an assist as the Colonels beat Henry Clay 3-0 in the state tournament final at Paul Dunbar.
Lamb, a junior, and Litzler, a senior, helped No. 5-ranked Covington Catholic (24-2-2) capture its first state title and complete an undefeated season (20-0-2) against Kentucky competition.
Litzler said this was the first season he and Lamb teamed at the top of the CovCath offense.
“The regular season we were adjusting and getting to know each other, and the postseason we just clicked,” Litzler said. “I’m telling you, they should be scared for (Lamb’s) senior year. He’s a fantastic player. He set me up multiple times throughout the year.”
No. 3 Henry Clay (23-3-1) entered with a 20-match winning streak but mustered just two shots on goal. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Blue Devils coach Tim Bernardi was hopeful his team could get an early goal in the second half.
“We thought if we could come out … and make it 2-1, then we could possibly press and gut-check them a little bit,” Bernardi said. “We couldn’t generate anything. They were rock-solid in the back, a very, very stingy, well-coached defense.”
The Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when Lamb served a pass from the right side of the field toward Litzler, who knocked it past Blue Devils goalkeeper Donovan Gregory.
The duo teamed again in the 33rd minute, this time with Lamb scoring on an assist from Litzler.
Robertson said the goals were a relief after the first 15 minutes in which Henry Clay missed a couple of scoring opportunities.
“We stuck with our game plan, had our forwards stay high, and we started making combos and our outside (midfielders) were starting to take it at them. It just opened up everything. We got our services across, and that opened it up for our forwards in the middle.”
Lamb’s second goal came in the 69th minute and was more than enough for a CovCath defense that posted its 16th shutout of the season.
“I’d say our defense is the most athletic in the state,” Litzler said. “They’re something else. A shutout in the state championship? That’s amazing.”
* All-tournament team: Bryce Day (MVP), Sam Romes, Ben Darpel (Covington Catholic); Christopher Hunt, Aime Mabika, Collin Rose (Henry Clay); David Mason, Jeffrey Spader (Bowling Green); Jacob Teasely, Jamison Edwards (Fern Creek); Cameron Smith (Trinity); Zack Combs (Perry County Central); Jacob O’Nan (Henderson County); Adam Duff (Rowan County).
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.