TRURO - Could Central Colchester Bears head coach Steve Lindsay be psychic?
Yes or no, his four-year-old prediction the boys soccer team would be special this season came true in a big way Tuesday as it nipped the South Colchester Wolves 3-2 for the district title.
"I said in four years we would do something special, so I guess I lived up to my word," said Lindsay, as his team celebrated the first junior boys soccer title for the Onslow-based school since 2006.
The victory also means the Bears get to host the Northumberland Region championship Thursday, the first time the boys squad has ever done so. Central Colchester opens the competition with a semifinal match against Springhill at 10 a.m.
They are accolades long overdue if you ask Lindsay.
"Every year our girls seem to go on to regionals and win," he said. "So this is the first time the boys finally get some recognition."
Since there are two berths to regionals available to the district, South Colchester will also be in action Thursday, looking to avenge Tuesday's setback.
Matt Sandeson struck the winning tally while Brandon Archibald and David Bradbury also scored for the Bears. Trent Lynds notched both Wolves markers.
After a regular season which saw them finish first and defeat Bible Hill in the district semifinal, the Bears came into Tuesday's match riding a wave of confidence. They controlled much of the play in the opening 45 minutes, snuffing out much of the Wolves offensive ability and neutralizing Lynds, a lethal striker.
"We were getting to the ball first and playing strong, solid defence," said Bears keeper Nathaniel Singer, a 13-year-old Onslow resident. "We didn't let them get too much going offensively. It made my job a lot easier."
It was the formula which led the Bears to Tuesday's match and Lindsay said his squad deserves everything it's getting after four years of hard work.
"Every year for the last four years they've listened to how we were the third-best school in the Truro area behind Bible Hill and Truro," he said. "They play together as a team and played for the crest and I'm so proud of these kids. They're awesome, every one of them."
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