Coronado boys soccer coach Dustin Barton had a hard time finding new ways to describe what his team has accomplished this season.
He’s used practically every way possible to characterize his team’s historical and record-breaking campaign.
Now, two words can be used to remember what Coronado accomplished: Perfect. Champions.
Coronado, the Southern League champion, capped off a magical season with a 3-0 win over Northern champion Hug to claim its second straight Class 5A state championship Saturday at Coronado.
The Cougars finished 28-0 and are the second team in Nevada history to finish undefeated with no ties (Tech, 23-0 in 2012), according to known records by the NIAA. They are the first team since Legacy (2010 and 2011) to win back-to-back state titles in the top classification.
“We were just trying to play good soccer … and when you play good soccer, good things happen,” Barton said. “It’s not just one player, every single player contributes. It’s amazing how everybody comes together.”
Coronado set another record Saturday. The Cougars recorded their 20th shutout of the season, the most by a team in a season. Truckee (2012) held the previous record with 19.
Junior goalie Logan Pierce was in goal for all 20 shutouts. He was one of several returners who starred on Coronado’s title-winning team last season.
“It feels amazing, especially coming out and getting a shutout, the 20th of the season,” Pierce said. “To break every record at Coronado and shatter it, it just felt amazing to be out here with my team from last year. Everyone’s so hyped, it was so much fun. I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Coronado set eight state records this season, including finishing with 169 goals, the most by a team in any classification. The Cougars outscored their opponents 169-10 this season.
“Everyone was focused on this goal (to win the state title),” Barton said. “The records, those just came. We weren’t really shooting for that. We wanted to score more goals than last year. The records were just a nice by-product.”
On Saturday, Gavin Flickinger, Dylan Flores and Maddox Findlay scored for Coronado. Hug (17-1-5) did its best to try and keep the Cougars quiet, but Flickinger scored in the 36th minute from 15 yards out to break the scoreless tie.
It was Flickinger’s state-leading 60th goal. He set the state record for most goals scored by a player in the top classification (5A/4A) in Friday’s state semifinal win.
Flores scored his 38th goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 54th minute, and Findlay scored in the 64th minute.
“We didn’t come in lightly, and we dominated yet another time,” Flores said. “(We finished) our undefeated season and battled to the end. I think it took a lot of discipline for sure, but we worked hard and never gave up.”
Brody Breeden, Dalton Meusy and Sean Seidenberg helped anchor Coronado’s defense, which limited scoring chances for Hug and made life easy for Pierce in goal.
“Everything doesn’t come from a single person. It’s all built up from each other, and that’s one thing that’s great about this team,” Pierce said. “We have a solid defense, great midfielders and phenomenal strikers. It works all well together.”
Pierce, Flores and Flickinger lead the group that’s returning for Coronado. The Cougars will lose some senior starters, including Meusy, Austin Kiernan, Ben Aronow and Connor Morgenthal.
“We worked really hard all season, and it comes to an end, it’s kind of sad,” Barton said. “It’s such a great season and it’s sad to see it coming to an end. … We graduate some of our seniors, and that’s sad. We love all these guys.”
Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
