MBA Wins HVAC Championship

Redemption was on the minds of the Big Red players and fans as the referee whistled the beginning of the HVAC Championship match.  

 

Harding Academy had shown themselves to be an effective defensive team throughout the season, being the only team to shut out the Big Red during league play.  And beyond their disciplined defending, two technical attackers had carried their team to goals and the final.  

 

The MBA JS Soccer Team had wanted this rematch, and the fates delivered on a fitting cold night with an outstanding crowd from both schools in attendance.

 

Predictably, MBA started out with a good bit of possession across the back line, dampening any threat of Harding Academy causing a turnover and creating a chance.  However, as the Big Red progressed through midfield and encountered more defensive bodies clogging passing lanes and providing cover, the boys' attempts at dribbling through on solo runs resulted in throw ins rather shots.  As frustration mounted, the Big Red could be seen lumping the ball in to general areas rather than toward any particular target.  As the half ended, despite a possession edge of 70-30 percent, the score was 0-0 and Harding had kept us off the score sheet for a total of 90 minutes across the two games.

 

In the second half the pressure mounted, the lights were bright, and the crowd's sound belied a nervous energy.  But rather than grow apprehensive, the Big Red doubled down on their trust in each other, transforming their frustration into a flowing, patient, and team based attacking effort that created one clear chance, then another, and another.

 

The dam still wouldn't break, but neither would the boys' spirit.  They began making runs not for the ball, but to open up space for teammates.  When they had the ball under pressure, they utilized their technical skill to keep it and confidently work combinations out of tight spaces.  In the attacking third, the boys switched the ball with patience before give and goes opened up passing lanes to clear targets.  Willing runners flooded the box undeterred by the inevitable physical contact.  The moment had demanded their best attacking movement of the season.

 

And the boys delivered.

 

Off a Briggs Waddey cross, Thomas Roper, Jameson Meriwether, Tucker Robbins, and Charles Denton all attacked a cross that the outstanding Harding goalkeeper struggled to punch away, and the ball fell to Sebastian Muller's right foot.  After blasting it in, the boys ran to celebrate rapturously with their friends and supporters.  Less than two minutes later, with Harding Academy coming out of their defensive shell due to the need to equalize, a counter attack ended on the right foot of Charles Denton, as he blasted a shot past a sprawling Harding Academy defense to add a second and set off another frenzied celebration.

 

The game and the season would end with a well deserved 2-0 final score victory.  But sweeter than the score was the camaraderie of the student body as they shouted support and clamored applause for their friends as they gathered together with the team for our final team talk.  

 

It was truly unforgettable, and the JS Soccer Team is grateful for our community.

 

Roll Red!