The Riverview Middle School boy’s soccer team captured a first place trophy with a win over Clear Creek Middle School, 5-2, March 31 during the Mountain League Championship game at Riverview Middle School.
The Eagles finished the season with an 11-1 record.
The team’s only loss came at the hands of a very tough South Habersham team earlier in the season.
The Riverview Middle School boys’ team has a 28-3-1 record over the past three years. The team has recorded two championships and a runner-up finish. Last year, the team lost the championship game to Clear Creek in a shootout.
“I am very proud of all of them. They played like champions and beat a very solid Gilmer team whose only two losses were to us,” said Head Coach John Lundy.
The Eagles outscored their opponents this season, 64-10.
Riverview got on the scoreboard early, Sal Mendoza took a corner kick and deposited the ball in the back of the net. The Eagles held a 1-0 lead with 29:56 left in the first half.
Two minutes later, Eagle Zach Buchan flicked the ball off his head past the Clear Creek goalie to take a 2-0 advantage.
Both teams stiffened up defensively for the remainder of the half. Riverview took a 2-goal lead into halftime.
In the second half, both teams picked up the pace offensively. The Bobcats cut Riverview’s lead in half when they scored at the 23:47 mark to make the score, 2-1.
Riverview returned the score 28 seconds later with a goal by Brandon Lund on a corner kick to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles scored twice more off the feet of Nathan Shelp and Lund, his second of the game, to push Riverview ahead by a 5-1 score.
Lund finished the season with 24 goals. He was just three goals short of the school record, set by Jose Miranda, of 27.
Clear Creek added a goal with 7:42 left in the game, but it was too late. The celebration was on for the Riverview Middle School players when the final buzzer sounded.
“Coach Phil Branson and myself had a blast working with these boys and take great satisfaction in knowing that there is no better way to end a season,” Lundy said.
“This is the most talented middle school team I have ever coached, hands down. A great group on and off the field,” Branson said.
“I thought the boys saved some of their best work for the championship game. The way the boys passed the ball around and flipped the field so quickly is an example of why this is a championship team,” Lundy added.