By Lee Davis
The Over the Mountain area showed its domination of Alabama soccer in the state championships in Huntsville last weekend.
Three area teams – Oak Mountain boys, Vestavia Hills girls and John Carroll Catholic girls – claimed blue trophies at the Rocket City’s John Hunt Park. The Altamont School’s boys team finished second in its bid for a title.
In Class 7A boys, the Eagles capped an undefeated season with a 2-1 win over McGill-Toolen to earn their second consecutive championship. Jackson Murphy scored what proved to be the winning goal with 28:31 remaining to play.
Murphy’s heroics were set up by a cross from Caleb Van Geffen. The play gave Oak Mountain a 2-0 lead that it never relinquished.
Chad Jeter scored the Eagles’ first goal in the first half. Jeter was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“These guys have been composed all year, so I’m not surprised how we played today,” said Oak Mountain coach Daniel DeMasters. “It was hot so we tried to tire McGill out. But give them credit. They gave us a great game.”
The Eagles ended the game with 12 shots on goal; the Yellow Jackets had only five.
Oak Mountain – which spent much of the year ranked in the nation’s top five – finished 28-0-2. The Eagles have won six boys soccer state titles in the school’s relatively brief history.
“This team worked really hard to get where we are,” Murphy said. “I think we deserve it.”
In girls 7A, second-ranked Vestavia rolled to a 3-0 victory over Auburn to give the Lady Rebels their first state crown since 2007. Sophia Kamburis scored Vestavia’s first goal on a corner kick in the seventh minute. Julia Freeman got the ball to Kamburis.
Alison Glaze scored the Lady Rebels second goal in the 30th minute. Caroline Causey earned the assist.
The final goal came in the 37th minute when Sara McCurry scored with an assist from Kennedy Hicks.
Vestavia’s defense dominated the Tigers so thoroughly that Auburn never had a shot on goal.
Kamburis, a senior, was named Most Valuable Player.
Auburn handed Vestavia one of its two regular season losses on Feb. 20.
“We were confident in this game because we knew we were prepared,” Lady Rebel coach Brigid Littleton said. “Sometimes you have that feeling. Our girls were very calm. They were ready.”
The victory marked Vestavia’s fourth girls soccer crown, as the Lady Rebels finished 24-2.
In girls Class 6A, sophomore Claire Davies’ goal with only 2:59 to play gave John Carroll Catholic a 1-0 win over Northridge and their third consecutive state championship.
“I was really tired,” Davies said. “But we all pushed through it. We had to score and we did.”
The Lady Cavs’ defense held Northridge to only three shots on goal.
John Carroll finished the season with a 23-2-3 record, with losses coming to perennial Class 7A powers Oak Mountain and Vestavia.
“Claire has been doing this all season for us – coming in and making crucial goals at the right time,” Lady Cav coach Chase Zanaty said. “She made the game-winning goal and really put it all together for her sophomore season.”
Zanaty has won a title in each of his two seasons as John Carroll’s head coach.
“Our girls came out and dug deep and found a way to do it,” he said. “It’s reflective of the commitment and level of character that they have.”
Lady Cav goalie Carmen Smith credited a higher power for her team’s success.
“This is our third year to win the title and we’re grateful to God and thankful for our faith,” Smith said. “We practiced so hard and did all we could do to get here.”
In Class 1A-3A boys competition, Altamont bid for the title fell short when the Knights fell to Bayside Academy 3-2.
William Jackson and Mihir Limdi each scored a goal for Altamont. The Knights concluded their season with a 13-5-1 record.
