BOYS SOCCER - CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Vikings are Class 4A State Champions
Photos and Story
By Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Spring Valley Vikings, 2007 Class 4A Boys Soccer State Champions: Davis Jenkins (#0), Sr., K; Will Frierson (#1), Jr., K; Mark Beal (#2), Sr., D; Eamon Penland (#6), Sr., M; Josiah Becraft (#7), Sr., D; Troy Szadek (#8), So., D; Michael Czulinksi (#9), Jr., M; Sean Flynn (#10), Jr., F; Raymond Keyes (#11), So., D; Jay Revson (#12), Sr., D; Parker Arnold (#13), Jr., M; Josh Mitchell (#14), Sr., M; Taylor Wells (#15), So., D; Thomas Clements (#16), Jr., D; Zack Houghton (#17), Jr., D; Rob Pillinger (#18), Sr., F; Justin Martin (#19), Jr., M; Yun Soo Cho (#20), Jr., D; Ali Yazdi (#21), So., D; Kris Hartvigsen (#22), Jr., D; Bradley Burgess (#23), Sr., M; Antoine Parris (#24), Fr., M; Matt Harding (#25), So., D; Dave Clark, Head Coach; John Powell, Assist. Coach; Ron Caldwell, Athletic Trainer; Tim Hunter, Athletic Director; Dr. Greg Owings, Principal.

Lightning struck four times for the Spring Valley Vikings earning them the SC Class 4A Soccer Championship.

First, it literally lit up the skies over USC's Stone Stadium forcing officials to delay the Vikings' championship match with the defending champion Northwestern Trojans Saturday, May 12.

Spring Valley's Sean Flynn tries to take the ball from Northwestern's Will Stillman. Flynn scored the winning goal with a header off a perfect pass from Michael Czulinski.

Then, when the match resumed Monday, May 14, lightning struck figuratively in the form of two breakaway goals from Spring Valley freshman phenom Antoine Parris.

The first came in the 26th minute when Viking goal keeper Davis Jenkins booted the ball over midfield and over most of the Northwestern defense. Parris chased the ball down and kicked it over Trojan goal keeper Clayton Gladden's arms just as the two collided 30 yards from the goal. All Gladden could do was watch it roll into the goal.

Parris found himself alone again ten minutes into the second half. He stutter- stepped a Trojan defender then raced 25 yards to the left side of the goal and punched the ball in with his right foot. It sailed past Gladden hitting the right post and bouncing into the net to put the Vikings up 2- 0.

Spring Valley goal keeper Davis Jenkins celebrates the Vikings' championship with fans. Jenkins had 14 saves.

The Trojans answered in the 53rd minute when Will Stillman found a corner kick and blasted the ball past a diving Jenkins. Six minutes later, Spring Valley's Parker Arnold collided with a Trojan forward just in front of the Viking's goal. The Trojans were awarded a penalty kick, which Zack Clark booted in for the tying goal.

The Vikings' final lightning strike happened on just their third and final shot of the second half with 2:45 remaining in the match.

Michael Czulinski sprinted down the right sideline in Northwestern territory, then centered a pass perfectly to the left side of the goal where Sean Flynn headed it to the left corner of the net.

While the Trojans outshot the Vikings 11- 3 in the second half, they could not get a shot off in the final six minutes of the match.

Jenkins racked up 14 saves for the Vikings.

Spring Valley freshman Antoine Parris dribbles around Northwestern's Robbie Benson (#3) and Michael Antinoro (#5). Parris scored two goals for the Vikings.

Spring Valley head coach Dave clark said, "No one thought we had a chance. Most people thought we'd lose by three or four goals.

"We came out and were aggressive. We wanted to attack. We didn't want to sit back and play defense.

"To their credit, they came back and tied it up, but we never stopped believing."

Northwestern: Goals: Will Stillman, Zack Clark; Saves: Clayton Gladden (2).

Spring Valley: Goals: Antoine Parris (2), Sean Flynn; Saves: Davis Jenkins (14).