Tribute to EMHS Soccer 2007

After a 2-0 start in back-to-back 6-0 home game wins, the Flames hit the road and played in Episcopal High School's Maroon and Black Tournament.

EMHS first faced Flint Hill School, who was ranked first in the state. Flint Hill sported players such as senior defender Howard Turk, a member of the USA National U-17 and U-18 teams and was a starting center back for UVA this past fall. Turk was also named an NSCAA All-American his senior year.

EMHS tied Flint Hill 1-1, but were outshot 15-3, and looked pretty sloppy throughout the game.

EMHS's second match was against hosting Episcopal High School, who was ranked third in the state. EMHS jumped out to a 2-1 lead, only to surrender goals in the 70th and 79th minutes and lose 3-2.

Cape Henry Collegiate School, ranked sixth in the state fell victim to EMHS in their third game. After going up 3-0, the Flames relaxed a little and gave CHCS two easy second half goals.

Senior forward Mitchell Leap and junior defender Ryan Eshleman were named to the All-Tournament Team.

After a tiring weekend against three of the state's best teams, EMHS won 4-0 on the road against a ninth-ranked Collegiate School in Richmond.

Then, the Flames hosted an eight-team tournament. Their first match was a rainy 4-1 win against Hargrave Military Academy, with HMA's lone goal coming off a first-half penalty kick.

In the semi-final, EMHS met Denbigh Baptist School, ranked second in VISAA's Division II. The Flames netted three first-half goals and held that score through the end of the game.

EMHS faced fifth-ranked St. Christopher's School in the final on Saturday. The teams battled scoreless for 60 minutes. The Saint were the first to net a goal, but EMHS quickly scored right back to send the game into overtime. No goals were scored in overtime, and St. Christopher's prevailed in penalty kicks.

Leap, senior midfielders Kevin Chico and Bryce Shank, and senior goalkeeper Dillon Brunk were named to the All-Tournament Team for EMHS.

After two consecutive weekend tournaments, the Flames hosted seventh-ranked Woodberry Forest School and won 2-1. After a 10-0 win against a conference opponent, EMHS got another shot at the team who beat them in penalty kicks in their own tournament: St. Christopher's.

It was the Saints' homecoming game, and the atmosphere was perfect for a heated re-match.

After playing a scoreless first half, tempers began to flair at the start of the second. A fight resulted in an ejection for each team, opening up play for many more opportunities.

Soon after the red cards had been issued, St. Chris scored on a giveaway by a Flames defender. With the clock winding down, and EMHS trailing 1-0, they had to push the pace. Kevin Chico finally made good on one of the Flames many second-half chances in the 72nd minute to knot the game at one.

Chico again got an opportunity off a rebound in the 78th and finished beautifully to give EMHS sweet revenge and a 2-1 victory.

After finishing the regular season with five conference wins, four of which were shutouts, the Flames entered the postseason as the top seed in the VIC West. That meant they would face the fourth-seed in the East: Hargrave Military Academy.

EMHS had won the VIC tournament 19 times since 1981. They had been in the championship game every year since 1981 except for in 2002. They had won four VIC championships in a row and looked primed to make it a five-peat.

Since the Flames had knocked off HMA 4-1 earlier in the year, this game seemed to be a nice easy warm-up for tougher games to come. However, even thought EMHS held Hargrave to zero shots on goal through regulation, the score was tied 0-0 heading into overtime.

In the first 10-minute "silver goal" period, each team scored a goal, the Flames first and Hargrave equalizing. The second ten-minute period was golden goal, and Hargrave was the first and last to put the ball in the net. The Flames out-shot HMA 29-2, but lost the game 2-1.

Never had EMHS lost in the quarterfinals of the VIC tournament.

After a heartbreaking loss, the Flames were still somehow ranked fourth in the state with a 15-3-1 record.

This gave them the opportunity to host both matches before the Final Four. They were first slated to play No. 13 Paul VI Catholic High School. EMHS had extra time to mull over their devastating loss since they were practicing for an extra 10 days instead of playing in games.

And it showed.

The Flames came out sluggish and slow, but ended up taking a 1-0 lead in the second half on a goal from Mitchell Leap and holding on for the win. They controlled the game, but did not look near as sharp as they would need to be to make a run in the tournament.

Next up for the Flames was The Potomac School.

The Potomac School, ranked 12th, upset No. 5 Collegiate School in penalty kicks in the first round.

EMHS took a 2-0 lead in the first twenty minutes on goals from Mitchell Leap and sophomore forward Daude Teel. They looked sharp and were winning all 50-50 balls.

Just before halftime, Potomac received a questionable penalty kick call against goalkeeper Dillon Brunk, and that made it 2-1 going into halftime.

With ten minutes remaining, Leap again had a chance to score and finished it beautifully with his head. The 3-1 advantage was preserved to the finish, giving EMHS the trip to Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Virginia that they had been looking for since losing in the state championship in 2005.

Potomac managed only three shots on goal in the game.

EMHS now had a huge challenge ahead of them. The Flint Hill School team that dominated them in a 1-1 draw in September was the next hurdle on the path to a state championship.

FHS was ranked 17th in the nation at this time and were the undefeated top seed in the state.

The teams found themselves in a battle. Each team matched the other stride for stride. Flint Hill managed five shots on goal in the game to EMHS's four. Defenses were tight and strong, and midfields battled for possession and momentum.

The Flames finally broke the scoreless draw with a goal from senior midfielder Bryce Shank in the 39th minute, just before halftime. Forward Mitchell Leap found himself running full speed at the top of the box and slowed enough to slip a no-look pass to Shank coming up on his left. Shank made the most of the opportunity and tucked it away near-post.

The game ended in a 1-0 win and EMHS was on their way to their second championship appearance in three years. This time, they were looking for the ultimate finish.

Eastern Mennonite entered the state championship on a high.

Knocking off the top seed and having a chance to play for a state championship was exactly what they had been playing for all year.

The game, at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, began at 7 pm, just as a cold rain began to fall.

The first half began, and defenses were strong. Very few shots were mustered by either team.

Both teams worked for possession, but could not create many chances, and the teams played scoreless to the halftime whistle.

In the 44th minute, Norfolk Academy played a through ball to the corner, beating the outside back and drawing out Flames center back Ryan Eshleman, creating space in the middle for an outside midfielder on the opposite side with an open crack off the cross. NA 1 - EMHS 0.

EMHS coaches Kendal Bauman and Mike Martin were left wondering what the next move was to be.

After a save on a shot by EMHS goalkeeper Dillon Brunk, Eshleman collected the rebound and took the ball to the outside. Looking up, he found forward Leap in the center of the field, who brought the ball down with his chest and turned.

Midfielder Kevin Chico was making a run down the left side of the field and Leap found his feet. Chico pushed the ball onto his left foot when he was within shooting range, and put the ball past the NA goalkeeper and inside the far post to tie the game at one goal apiece.

Senior midfielder Bryce Shank found himself in a great position inside Norfolk's penalty box. He touched the ball around NA goalkeeper and was taken to the ground. The goalkeeper, after receiving a yellow card, now faced a big moment.

Mitchell Leap stepped up to the penalty spot for the Flames. This chance for EMHS to take the lead in regulation could have been their last.

Leap calmly netted the ball in the left side of the goal, and was promptly mobbed by his teammates.

EMHS had one more chance to get an insurance goal in the final few minutes, but the ref waved off another apparent foul inside the penalty box.

The final whistle blew. The Flames had held off Norfolk for the 2-1 win. As fans ran onto the field, tears were abundant and smiles were countless among the players, the coaches and their fans. EMHS finally won their first soccer state championship.

It is a great honor to help give something that special to your school. I enjoyed every minute and I would trade it for nothing.