JMB+PRIDE

JMB PRIDE: Boy's Soccer Wins Maryland State 2A Championship All Photos: Steve Ruark = MARYLAND 2A BOYS SOCCER STATE FINAL Top of the heap =

Bennett caps undefeated season with its first state title
By Joe Slaninka • Special To The Times • November 16, 2008 > "I'm still a little numb," Bennett coach Skip Ruark said. "It's been a long time coming, and these guys have been so special. I'm still a little shell-shocked that we won the game." > After holding each other scoreless in regulation and in two sudden-death overtimes, the two teams required a penalty-kick shootout to determine the winner. In the fourth round of kicks, JMB senior midfielder Dominic DiBartolo slipped the ball past Liberty goalkeeper Kevin Hollasch to give the Clippers a 4-3 advantage. > Bennett senior goalkeeper Ross Evans preserved the lead when he stoned Liberty midfielder Eric Skelly's attempt to even the score. > "Before the shootout, Dominic [DiBartolo] just told me to read, don't guess," Evans said. "My instincts took over, and I took a read and just went with it." > The Clippers' James Moyers sealed the state championship when he netted the next goal, sneaking the ball just inside the right post. > "I knew I could make it," Moyers said about the shot. "I had to make sure I didn't get too nervous and didn't get caught up in everything. I knew where I could put it, and I thought that as long as I could do that, no one could stop me." > The Clippers completed a perfect 16-0 regular season, and this year marks the first time Bennett has reached the state semifinals since 1999. > "I just don't know what to say. An undefeated perfect season: It doesn't get any better than that," Ruark said about his 16th season as the Clippers' coach. > With the victory, Bennett improved to a 18-0 on the season, including the playoffs, while Liberty fell to 15-3-1 on the season. > "It was awesome," Evans said. "That was the greatest moment when James was able to finish the PK to win the state championship as one of the leading seniors. It just makes me feel great." > Photo galleries of the state champion James M. Bennett and Pocomoke boys soccer teams. > See The Daily Times Internet site at > [|http://www.DelmarvaNow.com]. media type="custom" key="2698295" > All Photos: Steve Ruark > >
 * BALTIMORE -- The James M. Bennett boys soccer team defeated Liberty 5-3 in penalty kicks Saturday afternoon at the University of Maryland Baltimore County to capture its first Maryland 2A state championship.
 * [[image:JMB3.jpg align="left" caption="JMB's Dan Sanchez"]][[image:JMB4.jpg align="center" caption="JMB SENIOR AUSTIN WIGLEY!"]]
 * all photos : Steve Ruark**