Published: May 10, 2008 01:41 am            

Undefeated!

Memorial downs Norman North 1-0 in shootout to take state title

YUKON — The Edmond Memorial boy’s soccer team wrapped up its first state title since 1994 on Friday night, knocking off No. 2-ranked Norman North in a 1-0 shootout, as it finished the 2008 season with an unblemished 15-0 record.

’We went into four different shootout during the season, and we won all of them,’ Justin Chavez said. ’The record says it all, 15-0, I’m just so happy right now.’

Following 100 minutes of scoreless action, which included two overtimes, Steven Darnell, Scott Armbrust, Preston Cox, and Braden McCaleb all hit penalty kicks.

Darnell made a save on the Timberwolves third penalty kick, and with the score tied 4-4, Chavez drilled the game-winner.

’They trust me to stop them at least once, you know, but these guys have always had my back, they’ve helped me so many times, and they cover my mistakes, as much as I cover theirs,’ Darnell said.

The Bulldogs, ranked third in the country by rivals.com, limited Norman North’s offensive opportunities, using an uptempo style that put the Timberwolves in a defensive mindset for much of the game.

While Norman North did have four shots on goal in the first half, three of them came in a span of 10 seconds with just over 30 minutes remaining, all resulting in saves by Darnell.

Memorial nearly got a goal from Chavez with 4:35 left in the first half, but his head-shot was batted away by Timberwolves goalkeeper Royal Mulinix, who had just enough time to react.

The Bulldog’s remained in control in the second half, but a late charge by the Timberwolves seemed to shift the momentum of the game heading into overtime.

Norman North dodged a bullet with 0:55 left in the second overtime, when Cox broke away from defenders and went one-on-one with Mulnix. Cox had the goalkeeper faked out, but his shot sailed just right of the goal, sending the game into a shootout, where the Bulldog’s eventually pulled it out.

’There is nothing I could say about these guys that would give them the credit they deserve,’ Memorial trainer Justin Coffelt said. ’We didn’t always dominate that game, but we weren’t going to lose, they just knew it. It was just one of those teams that just knew down in their heart they weren’t going to lose.’

’I think in the first game when they won against Santa Fe, that started it, and they knew they weren’t going to lose.’

Like the players, head coach Brent Young knew the game was over as soon as it went to PK’s.

’Steve’s great back there in goal, and so are the guys shooting it. They just know they are going to win,’ Young said.

        

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