Super Seven: Cardinal Newman boys soccer extends championship streak
The streak continues for Cardinal Newman boys soccer.
The Cardinals captured their seventh straight state championship with a 1-0 win over Porter-Gaud on Saturday in the SCISA Class 4A title match at St. Sebastian Stadium.
The championship was the program’s 14th overall and 12th under coach Will Eudy.
“It has just been unbelievable support, unbelievable coaches. Some of these guys have been with me 10 or 12 years,” Eudy told the media after the championship streak. “It is just consistency and support from our leadership of knowing a vision and sticking to it and knowing what the standard is and sticking to it.”
Cardinal Newman suffered a four-game losing streak, three coming during a trip to Tennessee in March, against some tough opponents. The Cards found their grove over last two months and turned up the defense.
Eudy also said Thursday after the semifinal win over Ben Lippen that he made some tweaks and changes to the lineup during the year.
The Cards finished the season with 14 shutouts including seven in the final eight matches.
The championship was a rematch of last year in which the Cardinals won 6-2. It was the second meeting of the season with Cardinal Newman winning, 2-1, on March 20.
Most of the Cardinal Newman’s players came out for the match decked out with red hair, customary for the team to do for a championship.
The match was a defensive battle throughout, although Cardinal Newman had a strong opportunity just past midway through the first half when it couldn’t convert on a penalty kick.
But the Cards scored the game’s only goal when Jasper Westfall scored on a pass from Quade Wilson to make it 1-0. Westfall had two goals in the 6-0 semifinal win over Ben Lippen on Thursday.
“Big time play in a big time game,” Eudy said of Westfall’s goal. “He is kind of an unsung hero but has done a good job for us. He was the key to get the ball to in the match because of the matchup there.”
Cardinal Newman had two chances on goal to add to the lead in the 71st minute but couldn’t convert. The Cyclones had a good look in the 76th minute, but the shot went over top of the goal.
Porter-Gaud girls win soccer title
Sasha Stuart’s goal in the 47th minute was the difference as Porter-Gaud defeated Cardinal Newman for the SCISA Class 4A girls championship
Porter-Gaud finishes the season at 24-1-1 with its lone loss to Wando, a Class 5A public school. It was just the fourth time this season P-G was held to one goal or less in a match.
The Cardinals finished the season at 12-5 and were shut out for the first time since March 17. Goalkeeper Mia Xanthakos had several key saves for Cardinal Newman.
