Quite simply, the better team (and the best I've ever seen on the final weekend in Columbia) won last night. What an atmosphere! Say what you will about Stone Stadium but Memorial Stadium is the best setting for the High School State Championships. Having the two teams on each side of the field is tremendous and the 8,000 on hand last night saw an intense battle for 7/8 of the match.
I've never seen a soccer team so fit and powerful as Northwestern. They dominated the midfield, especially #2, and their forward trio of #10, #14, and #17 just proved to be too much for Irmo. #3 is a hammer in the back and plays the game with such awareness. #7 is a workhorse who goes 100 miles per hour and has some deadly throw-ins (so did #8 for Irmo - geesh, 40-yard throw-ins on absolute ropes). #24 is a towering figure and really dominated in the air. #8 is strong on the ball and #12 seemed ready every time he was called on. Impressive!
When it was 3-0 it might have well been 10-0 because even though there is a gulf between NHS and IHS this year compared to everyone else, there is a definite gap between #1 and #2. Any other Irmo team would have taken home the title, but the run that the Trojans are enjoying right now is simply unbelievable. 3 state titles in 4 years and a 4A Upper State Championship every season since 2003 except for 2005 when they lost in the finals of that playoff stage.
I don't want to discredit Irmo - they are fantastic, too. But, really no comparison this season. #10 was outstanding. #4 was very good. I never saw #7 and thought that Irmo looked suspect with #9, #16, and #20 in the back - but who wouldn't against NHS? One weak spot looked to be in the net especially in the second half. A couple of reflex saves, but not much presence in the box for such a big match.
It was a joy watching Enzo for the last time and I'm sure we will see him excel at Chapel Hill as will all the other guys going wherever they are headed.
