Montgomery Academy soccer wins 7A State Title
Montgomery Academy’s boys soccer team accomplished what no team has done in two years, defeating the top-ranked team in the nation to capture the 7A state championship.
The Eagles, despite being the size of a 3A school, beat Oak Mountain 2-1 on Saturday in Huntsville, avenging an earlier loss this season by the same score.
Montgomery Academy scored twice in a span of 1:37 early in the first half. The Eagles capitalized on an own goal before tournament MVP Cade Segars scored on an assist from senior Brewer Welch
The victory gave Montgomery Academy its first 7A soccer state title in school history, defying MaxPreps’ prediction that gave the Eagles zero chance of winning.
“I don’t know how these rankings for soccer work. But they do not make any sense in my mind,” said Montgomery Academy soccer coach Gui Mondaini. “Oak Mountain, they’re a great team. But I think it’s very disrespectful to put a team with 0% chance of winning a game and we end up winning.”
When the final whistle blew, emotions ran high among the players.
“I can’t even explain it with words,” said Segars. “You’re just trying to find all your teammates that you’ve been playing all season with, find your friends that came to watch the game, your parents. It just means so much.”
Senior Ethan Yi said even being up 2-0, he felt terrified because Oak Mountain is such an incredible team. But the Eagles stuck in there and persisted.
“I was trying so hard to cry because this is my last game,” Yi said. “But the tears just couldn’t come. I was just so excited. This is just a brotherhood. I love all these boys”
Freshman goalkeeper Grady Ming expressed pride in helping the team’s seven seniors win a state title.
“They all have a big role,” Ming said. “They’ve made it to so many state finals, and it was great to win for them.”
Mondaini described his players as family.
“This is the most special group, ever,” he said.
