Despite Pinewood Prep’s better record, no one had a clear advantage in the SCISA Class AAA boys’ soccer state championship finale this past Saturday at Charleston’s Porter Gaud High School.

“Both teams had opportunities,” said Heathwood Hall Head Coach Kevin Graves.“We controlled most of the first half, and they had the best of it in the second half.”

The lone point came for the defending champion Panthers with about eight minutes remaining. It was a direct kick that scored the goal.

With walls of players set up to break on the ball once it was booted by Pinewood’s Dale Hitchcock, the ball eventually made it into the goal bouncing off an upright and slipping past Highlanders’ goalkeeper Parker Moore.

Rather than sailing to the side or up and over as most kicks of its type, this one never lofted. It just skimmed its way inches over the turf and snuck its way into the net. That’s all the Panthers (20–4–2) needed for the 1–0 triumph.

“Parker was screened by a four–man wall. I don’t think he saw the ball. I don’t believe even the Pinewood players expected it to go in. It rolled by one of our defender’s feet who thought it would either go out of bounds for a goal kick or have enough bend to slip to the side. But, that’s soccer,” said Graves.

The Highlanders completed the season at 15–6 with three dramatic playoff performances. After defeating Porter–Gaud in double–overtime they won the semi–final match by topping favored Cardinal Newman on penalty kicks.

Seniors Moore, Wilson White, Tim Beyerl, David Kirby, Jonathan Zurcher, and Andy Shields led Heathwood.

“Andy had 26 goals and 10 assists. He’s a textbook forward,” continued Graves, who has enjoyed the euphoria of coaching SCISA soccer state championship teams.

During a six year coaching tenure at Cardinal Newman High, Graves led the Cardinals to a pair of state titles and one runner– up finish. His most recent title was in 2000. After a one–year hiatus from classroom teaching and on–field coaching, he returned to Heathwood in 2001, where he had taught several years.