The boys soccer team became state champions Friday with a dominating 4-1 victory over the Chesapeake Cougars. The final game of the postseason delivered on everything expected from the team this season: lock-down defense, explosive offense, and consistent play as a result of excellent team chemistry.

The beginning of the match was close, with possession going back and forth as both teams adapted to the below-40 weather and got over the nerves of playing in a high-stakes game.

The Vikes gained their composure quickly and soon began to pressure the Chesapeake goalie. Forward Davey Mason, the Vikes’ leading scorer, narrowly missed a shot in the opening 10 minutes of the game, glancing the left goal post.

The offensive pressure continued with shots from forward Evan Goldsholle and more from Mason. But excellent goalie play by Chesapeake kept the game scoreless.

Although Chesapeake’s defense had some success in slowing down the Vikes, their offense was lackluster, relying purely on fast breaks to get chances. Whitman had 16 shots on goal compared to the Cougars’ two.

The Cougars offense was stalled for most of the game, mainly thanks to defenseman Ryan Rush and midfielder David Voigt, who both had many clutch steals and stopped almost every Cougar possession. Captain and midfielder Jeff Rosenberg also played a great defensive game and set up multiple offensive opportunities.

Rosenberg, who has been a leader on and off the field all season said the team’s mindset was crucial for their stellar season.

“As a team we developed a calm approach to every game and we gained the confidence to play our own style every time we stepped onto the field,” he said. “We knew what the result would be before the game even started.”

After a Chesapeake corner kick that was beautifully covered by goalie Ian Atkinson, the Vikes worked the ball up-field, where midfielder Johnny Schneider delivered a gorgeous cross to Mason, who launched a left-footed shot right on target to break the tie with 12 minutes left in the half and put Whitman up 1-0.

The Vikings kept up the pressure while Chesapeake dropped all of their players back for the end of the half in order to stop the Whitman lead from growing. However, with less than five minutes left in the first, forward Andreas Djurhuus fired a line drive right through the Cougar defense, giving the Vikes a 2-0 lead at the half.

To start the second half, the referee gave midfielder Carlos Lovo a questionable yellow card after a mid-air collision. Lovo had a solid start in place of injured midfielder George Xourias who has been a lock-down midfielder for the Vikes all season.

This did not stop the Vikings aggression. Mason nearly scored again off of a stylish between-the-legs pass from midfielder Aaron Tanenbaum.

The Cougars then managed to score their lone goal on a counterattack when the defense was unable to set up in time. This goal proved to have little impact.

The Chesapeake defense, now desperate for another transition goal became over-aggressive, resulting in a yellow card and several conversations between their defenders and the referee.

Mason, not phased, took matters into his own hands when he artfully dribbled past a sea of Chesapeake defenders and landed his second goal of the night to give the Vikes a 3-1 lead with 8 minutes left.

Five minutes later, Tanenbaum got in on the score board with a nice bouncing shot past the Cougars’ goalie, putting the nail in the coffin for the match.

Whitman would continue to put on offensive pressure until the final whistle, but were unable to score again leaving the final score 4-1.

Goldsholle explained that there is no experience quite like taking home a state championship.

“It’s hard to find words to describe but it’s absolutely incredible,” he said. “[We] planned to just play how we have all season with good possession; we executed it well and had fun playing out there.”

Rosenberg agreed.

“It’s honestly the greatest feeling ever. Looking around at your teammates who you’ve played with for years and knowing that you’re champions in unreal,” he said. “This victory is the culmination of all of the hard work and determination throughout this great season.”