Cox answers critics with its second state crown

CHANTILLY

The Cox boys soccer team has heard it all from doubters this season.

The Falcons have been described as too young, too small and inexperienced - all with a new coach.

But for the next year, all they will hear is "Congratulations, state champs."

Neil Harrison smashed in a headed goal less than three minutes into the first half of overtime to lift Cox (21-2-1) to a 2-1 victory over Mills Godwin in Sunday's Group AAA championship at Westfield High.

"I just saw the ball in the air and did anything I could to get to it," Harrison said. "It was the break we needed."

Cox then endured a furious comeback attempt by the Eagles (18-3-2).

"It's unsettling," first-year Falcons coach Scott Mead said. "You defend, defend, defend. Clear, clear, clear."

Mills Godwin's attack repeatedly sent in probing balls off corner kicks, free kicks or long balls from the back until the referee blew the final whistle and signaled the end of the game.

"It was the greatest feeling ever," Mead said.

It is the second state championship for Cox, which also won it 19 years ago. It was also the first time a team from the Eastern Region has won the state title since 1997 when Kempsville beat Cox. That was the last time a team from the region has reached the final.

The Falcons, who had beaten Mills Godwin 3-1 in a regular-season match in March, had pulled ahead on a Hunter Byrnes volley in the 14th minute. Ryan Oakes pounced on a throw-in by Trey Saunders and drove down the left sideline before firing a left-footed cross to the middle of the box. Byrnes sped in from the right and put the ball past Mills Godwin keeper Jack Van Arsdale.

But with 17 minutes remaining in the first half, Cox had to go with 10 players after defender Chris Albiston was ejected following a Mills Godwin foul in the Falcons' box.

"We were kind of put down at first," senior forward Will Martin said. "But we knew it was still our game to be had - no matter how many we had on the field."

Cox still looked comfortable in handling the long-ball efforts of the Eagles. But on a quick counterattack, Matt Bley slotted a pass through to Valeriy Sviderskiy, who dragged a shot to the left past keeper Jonathan Harris to level the game at 1-1.

"We try to outwork everybody in the midfield," Mead said. "When you play a man down, you give up chances."

The Falcons seemed to settle a bit and parried away 10 Mills Godwin shot attempts in the second half.

"We got back to stringing passes together and when you do that, you get confident," Mead said.

That confidence was present as the Falcons seemed a step quicker as regulation time wound down.

Midway through the first half of overtime, Harrison connected on Chris Whiteside's corner kick and sent his team soaring.

"All I was trying to do was find Neil at the back post," said Whiteside, a senior midfielder. "As soon as I kicked it, I knew it was right there."

The Falcons' euphoria was amplified when Harris made an acrobatic save to his right of a point-blank header by Mills Godwin's Russell Bootwright.

"I didn't think I could get to it," Harris said. "It must have been the adrenaline - I dove and just kept going. Neil had just scored and we knew we had to hold the lead or go to (penalty kicks). And it's 50-50 from there."

But Cox dealt with Mills Godwin's pressure in the second half of overtime and five minutes later the state championship trophy was in Mead's hands.

"I can't say enough about the boys and the work put in," Mead said.

Added Martin: "All season long, it was the goal to be state champs. We knew we had the players and the talent. This team is the most fun and hard-working I've been on. There was no game we took off and it all adds up to being state champs."