ALDIE — The Kellam boys soccer team capped off an historic undefeated season with its first-ever state title by defeating the Lewis Lancers 1-0 Sunday for the Class 6 championship at John Champe High School.
Freshman Jashaun Johnson scored three minutes into the second half despite a hamstring injury suffered in the first half to give the Knights (21-0-0) the lead. The defense did the rest as the back line held the Lancers (14-7-1) from Springfield off the scoreboard for Kellam’s eighth straight shutout victory.
Kellam players celebrate defeating Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School for the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam players swarm Kellam Jashaun Johnson (24), center, after Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Joshua Nevins (6) wrestles past John Lewis Cristian Barahona (9) and Brayan Lopez (23). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Carson Stretz (22) leaps through the air for a header in front of the goal against John Lewis goal keeper Jason Rios (1). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
A defensive line set by Kellam blocks a freekick by John Lewis Moad Ezzahir (10). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Joshua Nevins (6) fights past John Lewis Randall Ramirez-Navarro (4) for possession of the ball. Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam players swarm Kellam Jashaun Johnson (24) after his goal in the second half. Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
John Lewis Emerson Martinez (12) kicks the ball away from Kellam Carson Stretz (22). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam John Maggio (18) heads the ball to a teammate while avoiding a John Lewis defender. Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Joshua Nevins (6) heads the ball away over John Lewis Ermias Yoseph (8). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Leonardo Fajardo (9) reacts with teammates to defeating John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kellam Jashaun Johnson (24) celebrates his goal against John Lewis with teammate Trystan Kidd (10). Kellam defeated John Lewis 1-0 at John Champe High School in the Class 6 state championship on June 11, 2023 in Aldie, Virginia. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
“Most of us are seniors, so it means a lot to us,” said senior forward Carson Stretz. “It’s our last year playing high school and for some of us, it’s the last time playing at this level, so it just really feels great. [It’s] a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity. It feels good to be on top.”
“We said at the beginning of the year we wanted to go undefeated,” Kellam coach Craig Power said. “Going undefeated entails winning the state title, but we didn’t talk about the state title till towards the end of the season. We said, ‘We are this far undefeated, let’s win it all now.’”
The winning play came when Stretz pushed the ball up the field and passed it to Samuel Ricciardella in the corner. Ricciardella centered the ball to Stretz in the middle of the box. The ball deflected off Stretz to the waiting foot of Johnson, who deposited it past keeper Jason Rios.
“I told him he needs to make that run in [to the box] when the ball gets crossed in, and thankfully he listened and he put the ball in,” Power said of Johnson.
The game was scoreless at halftime as neither team could manage many high-danger chances. However, the half was not without some drama. At one point, Kellam keeper Matthew Yates found himself nearly on the sidelines at the 25-yard line in an effort to clear the ball to his teammates. However, he had to sprint back to the box when he failed to come up with the ball. Luckily for the Knights, they were able to regain possession thanks to their tremendous defense.
The last time an opponent scored on Kellam was May 12 in a 4-1 victory at Landstown. Defensively, the Knights were buoyed all season by a pair of fullbacks in Hamilton Howes and Leonardo Fajardo that Power calls the best in the state.
They are backed up by a pair of keepers in Yates and Will Stanley, who played the first and second half, respectively, during Sunday’s win. Despite splitting time for much of the season, there was never an issue with the team’s chemistry as Kellam kept piling up victories.
“I think we had a good team from the start,” said Stretz. “We’ve all been playing with each other for basically our whole lives. I knew we were going to do well, but to go undefeated the whole way was kind of unexpected.”
