The Collins Hill Eagles captured the Class AAAAA boys soccer title last night, knocking off No. 1 Northview 1-0 thanks to two big saves by a freshman goalie during penalty kicks to win the school’s second straight championship. The Eagles netted four shots in the PK session to Northview’s two, following a scoreless regulation and two scoreless overtime periods.
Jackson Taylor blocked two Titans shots to his right, giving Coach Drew Prentice’s squad its second straight title in its third straight championship game appearance.
"I think all the adversity we faced this season has made a stronger, more tightly knit group," the first-year coach said of his team. Earlier this season, the Eagles lost its backup and starting goalkeepers to injuries as well as several other key players, but the team weathered though it, with stellar depth helping Prentice’s team ultimately came through with the title.
"Fortunately we [were] fairly deep this year," Prentice said. "Although we did lose some very key players in the first game of the year, we had players step up and fill those roles."
In the championship game, Collins Hill was able to avenge an earlier season loss to Northview, which cost the Eagles the national No. 1 ranking as well as the Region 7-AAAAA title. Northview saw its 12-game winning streak snapped with PKs, but the game was nearly won by Collins Hill in regulation. Josh Fancher hit Zak Wallingford with a pass early in the second half that Wallingford deposited in the net, but Wallingford was called offside, negating the goal. Northview was unable to put a shot on goal in regulation and OT while Collins Hill got six on goal but none past the Titans goalkeeper. During the PKs, Peter Kurowski, Ricky Ortega, Aldo Lara and Dominic Bonilla all converted their shots to give Collins Hill the win and the title as Taylor made the two saves.
Prentice raved about his seniors, remarking that their leadership helped put this team in a position to win the title.
"Every senior at some point has stepped up and been a leader when we needed them to. They are so selfless." Prentice knew this season class was special and credits them for helping teach the younger players learn the ropes. "A senior class like this doesn’t come around very often. On the field the underclassmen probably learn more from just competing with the seniors than they would from any drill."
With that, the seniors will leave with three straight finals appearances and two straight titles. Prentice knows that motivation won’t be a problem as the team aims for yet another crown next season.
"The boys have worked hard their whole lives improving in the game. They are winners and winners never take days off." With Jackson Taylor just a freshman, and Bonilla, Fancher and Wallingford just juniors, perhaps the building blocks are in place for a three-peat.
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