Lions roar: Bellarmine Prep soccer team wins its 4A state soccer championship after 14 years
After 14 long years, the Bellarmine Prep Lions boys soccer team can call themselves champions once again.
The Lions faced off against the Skyline Spartans Saturday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
Rainy, cold weather and roaring fans set the stage for the 4A state championship. Both teams started strong in the first half, but the Lions struck first on an early free kick from sophomore Jaggar Judkins, giving Bellarmine a 1-0 advantage.
Skyline would have a lapse in their defense and with help from sophomore Jaggar Judkins, Bellarmine would put the first points on the board within the first seven minutes of the game. With Bellarmine leading the Spartans 1-0.
The Spartans defense stiffened for the remainder of the game, but Skyline struggled to get the ball in the goal, finding no way past the defense set by senior Jack Radovich and juniors Liam Miller and Jayson Baldwin.
In the end, Lions players hoisted the 4A state champion trophy. It was always the plan, Baldwin said.
“We knew what kind of team we had and from day one, we were hoping for this moment right here and look at it, we succeeded,” he said.
Working together was essential, said Bellarmine head coach Jim Dempsey.
“We knew we had a great group of guys and so the plan was just to make sure, throughout the season we build the team unity because we knew it would be a tough ride,” he said. “We knew we had a team that could potentially challenge for the state championship, but we also knew we had to stick together through it all to do that.”
The team had not played their best game of the season, he added, complimenting the group’s tenacity. They stuck to their strengths.
“I think the big key was just, we talked about it before, just do what we know how to do. We haven’t had to switch things up too much throughout the season. It’s just a matter of whether we play our best games or whether we don’t. We honestly didn’t have our best game tonight but we still persevered and played through it,” Dempsey said.
Miller, the tough defender, spoke of a win for the program as well as the team.
“It really means a lot in the Bellarmine community,” he said. “I just feel wonderful to be a part of this community and be part of the state championship for 2022.”
The roaring Bellarmine fan section, emotional players, and happiness filled the aftermath when the game was finally over and the Lions were crowned. Baldwin ran out of words to describe it.
“It’s more than I can explain. It’s just the love for the game and everybody out here.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2022 at 10:34 PM.