Salesianum School’s soccer team had a battle on their hands for all 80 minutes, but
the Sals came away with a 1-0 victory over Middletown High Monday night to win the 2008 state soccer championship at the new Appoquinimink High School’s Jaguar Stadium. Salesianum won the crown for the fifth consecutive year, and for the sixth time in seven years.

“This was one of the tournament games that we really had to fight for,” said Salesianum coach Scott Mosier. “Middletown played a passionate game. They came out and played extremely hard with numbers all over the place and frustrated our attack and played real well, so hats off to Middletown for playing so well,” he said.

The Sals opened the scoring in the 38th minute when senior Thatcher Howell danced through the Cavalier defense and ripped a shot over the right shoulder of Middletown goalkeeper Nathan Moran. Howell was assisted on the goal by junior Chas Wilson.

“We were a little unlucky in the first half, but we kept hammering away and kept fighting until we finally put one in,” Howell said.  “It feels great to win the title and it’s great to be part of this team and this program.”

Howell added that he was impressed with his opponents.

“They hung in there tonight and they played really tough. I have respect for every one of them, but I think we were the better team tonight and we came through in the clutch.”

During the first half, Salesianum outshot Middletown 7-2, but the Cavaliers’ defense withstood the charge until the final two minutes. Moments after Howell’s goal, Sallies nearly scored a game-breaker when senior Eric Burns intercepted a clearing pass and fired a shot to the short side that traveled just over the football goal post above the soccer net.

Early in the first half, the Sals dominated play and field position. In the 22nd minute, Howell fired a shot that just cleared the cross bar. He later went on a breakaway, but was ruled offside as he closed in on Moran.

Mosier said Moran’s play was instrumental in keeping Middletown in the game.

“Their keeper came up with four or five big saves that I think if we had been able to score that second goal, that might have taken the wind out of them. With only one goal, it was still a game and they continued to play hard,” he said.

Middletown senior Brian Smith had a great run down the left side of the field but shot wide right in the 21st minute. Smith was sent away on a nifty pass from junior Justin Oduan. The Cavaliers’ other scoring opportunity came in the 34th minute on a corner kick, but the Sals’ defense headed the ball out of harm’s way.

During the second half, Middletown’s defense again came up big time after time against the Sallies attackers. The Sals’ had two good scoring opportunities including a shot by sophomore Connor Norat in the 46th minute, and later on a corner in the 53rd minute.

The Cavaliers nearly scored the equalizer in the 42nd minute, but Salesianum goalkeeper Brian Frame made a clutch save. In the 61st minute, Middletown senior Brendan Parsons fired a direct kick from close range, but Frame made a diving stop on the attempt.

“We’ve been working all season just to get here,” said Moran. “This is just an accomplishment in itself to get to the state finals. We played our hearts out. But even though we didn’t come away with the victory, we have a good program.”

Moran added his defense played a great game in front of him and he felt fortunate to come up with some key saves to keep his team in the game.

“I did the best I can, my defense did the best they can, and everyone did the best they can," he said. "You can’t ask for anything more.”

The top-seeded Sals finished the season with a 16-4 record, while the sixth-seed Middletown finished with a 13-4-2 mark.

Cavaliers coach Brian Derrickson said he was proud of the way his team played all season, especially during the championship game.

“The boys did an excellent job tonight. Sallies is Sallies and they have the tradition, but we had a really good tournament," he said. "The boys played very well together, and I can’t say enough about that."