ACA soccer repeats as state champs
HIGH POINT – Golden goal?
You bet it was.
Max Hill’s sudden-death overtime goal in the 101st minute gave the Asheville Christian Academy boys soccer team back-to-back state championships on Saturday.
The Lions defeated Coastal Christian, 3-2, in the NCHSAA 2-A finals at Wesleyan Christian Academy.
"It's a tremendous reward for this team," ACA coach Terry Hughes said.
"This group has been together not only as soccer players, but as friends since they were 5 years old. They're the tightest-knit group I've ever been around. They're just a bunch of brothers. I'm really pleased for them. Every time I talked to them this season, they always said they just wanted to keep playing as many games as they could with each other."
ACA (17-4-2) trailed at two different junctures in Saturday’s bid to repeat – 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 early in overtime. Both times, the Lions had an answer. Hill assisted Coleman Compton’s goal with 27 minutes to go in regulation and Will Sabo set up another equalizer from Reece Collie in the extra time.
With the two teams tied 2-2 at the end of two 10-minute overtimes, the game went to a golden goal scenario. After the ACA defense cleared a ball, Compton won it and flicked it to Hill.
Both teams had seven shots and goalkeeper Ben Vanderkwaak made four saves for the Lions.
Hill, Gompers and Coleman Compton were named to NCISAA 2-A all-state team.
ACA was the runner-up to Christ School in the Carolinas Athletic Association and will lose six seniors to graduation – Compton, Hill, Sabo, Max Gompers, Logan Whalen and Josh Perryman.
HIGH POINT – Golden goal?
You bet it was.
Max Hill’s sudden-death overtime goal in the 101st minute gave the Asheville Christian Academy boys soccer team back-to-back state championships on Saturday.
The Lions defeated Coastal Christian, 3-2, in the NCHSAA 2-A finals at Wesleyan Christian Academy.
"It's a tremendous reward for this team," ACA coach Terry Hughes said.
"This group has been together not only as soccer players, but as friends since they were 5 years old. They're the tightest-knit group I've ever been around. They're just a bunch of brothers. I'm really pleased for them. Every time I talked to them this season, they always said they just wanted to keep playing as many games as they could with each other."
ACA (17-4-2) trailed at two different junctures in Saturday’s bid to repeat – 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 early in overtime. Both times, the Lions had an answer. Hill assisted Coleman Compton’s goal with 27 minutes to go in regulation and Will Sabo set up another equalizer from Reece Collie in the extra time.
With the two teams tied 2-2 at the end of two 10-minute overtimes, the game went to a golden goal scenario. After the ACA defense cleared a ball, Compton won it and flicked it to Hill.
Both teams had seven shots and goalkeeper Ben Vanderkwaak made four saves for the Lions.
Hill, Gompers and Coleman Compton were named to NCISAA 2-A all-state team.
ACA was the runner-up to Christ School in the Carolinas Athletic Association and will lose six seniors to graduation – Compton, Hill, Sabo, Max Gompers, Logan Whalen and Josh Perryman.
