West Shore Wildcats Defeat Berkeley Prep 1-0, Capture Boys 2A State Soccer Championship
By Alan Zlotorzynski // February 17, 2017
Wildcats second state title in last five years
DELAND, FLORIDA – The Beatles once sang, “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do” unless of course it represents the only goal of a state championship soccer game.
That’s all the West Shore Wildcats needed on Thursday afternoon to claim their second state soccer title with a 1-0 win over Tampa’s Berkeley Prep, the same team they beat 3-2 in overtime in 2012 to claim their first title.
The winning goal for head coach Bob Robidoux’s team came on a pretty helper from junior Abe Murphy who fed senior Amugo Chukwunenye for the eventual championship winning tally in the games 39th minute.
Chukwunenye, playing in his final high school game led West Shore in goals this season and his 18th marker of the season will be a memorable one for years to come.
In a day and age when all sports seem to be trending towards more offense, the Wildcats proved the adage that defense wins championships is alive and well.
West Shore dominated opposing teams top goal scorers throughout the year and especially in the postseason.
In seven playoff games, including Thursdays state title win, the Wildcats surrendered just one goal and that was back on Feb 1 during a 4-1 playoff win over Lake Highland Prep.
In fact, the Wildcats haven’t surrendered more than one goal since allowing two during a 6-2 win at Holy Trinity on January 13.
With the win coach Bob Robidoux captured his 60th career victory and was very happy with his team’s effort. Speaking to reporter’s coach Robidoux pointed out how well his team executed in shutting down Berkley Prep freshman J.T. Cooper, who scored 25 goals this past season.
Statistically, Berkeley Prep made only four shots in the contest, however none of those shots were on target.
The defensive performances by Brandon Benitez, Nick Burgess, Sam Leighton, Collin Robidoux and Matt Moscrip were all outstanding.
West Shore managed 10 shots, five were fired on goal on goal and one that went in.
Nick Pekmezian, Robidoux and Chukwunenye (goal) each registered official shots on goal while Abe Murphy had two.
The Wildcats finished the season 20-4 and while Coach Robidoux’s team proved today that one isn’t that lonely of a number in soccer, he may want to heed Timbuk3’s advice from their 1986 hit song, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.”
His team graduates eight seniors but returns 14 players off this year’s team next season. Look out Class 2A!
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Soccer Box Score (Final)
WEST SHORE vs BERKELEY PREPARATORY (Feb 16, 2017 at DELAND)
| Goals by period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| WEST SHORE | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY | 0 | 0 | 0 |
WEST SHORE
| Pos | ## | Player | Sh | SOG | G | A |
| 1 | CAMERON YEUTTER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | COLLIN ROBIDOUX | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | ABE MURPHY | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | MATTHEW MOSCRIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | NICK BURGESS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | SAM LEIGHTON | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | CHASE HESTER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | BRANDON BENITEZ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | NICK PEKMEZIAN | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | LUKE WHITWORTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | AMUGO CHUKWUNENYE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| — Substitutes — | ||||||
| 9 | IAN LEIGHTON | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | DYLAN O’BRIEN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals……… | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| ## | Goalie | Minutes | GA | Saves |
| 17 | LUKE WHITWORTH | 80:00 | 0 | 0 |
BERKELEY PREPARATORY
| Pos | ## | Player | Sh | SOG | G | A |
| 1 | ANDREW KOCH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | J.T. COPPER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | COLE HOFFMAN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | ETHAN JUDGE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | SPENCER SHERMAN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | KENNY HARVEY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | PIERCE ECKELMAN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | EZRICK NICHOLLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | MAX LERNER | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | JEFF GUTTENTAG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | DOMINIC LEE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| — Substitutes — | ||||||
| 11 | LUKE COREY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | FREDDIE CAROLAN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | BAILEY FORSMANS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals……… | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ## | Goalie | Minutes | GA | Saves |
| 1 | ANDREW KOCH | 80:00 | 1 | 4 |
| Shots by period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| WEST SHORE | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Corner kicks | 1 | 2 | Total |
| WEST SHORE | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Saves by period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| WEST SHORE | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Fouls | 1 | 2 | Total |
| WEST SHORE | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY | 2 | 5 | 7 |
SCORING SUMMARY
| Goal | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assists | Description |
| 1. | 39:34 | WSHS | AMUGO CHUKWUNENYE | ABE MURPHY |
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Officials: Referee: WINSTON O’CONNER; Asst. Referee: MICHAEL FELICIANO; JOSE PADILLA; Alt. Official: MICHAEL JARVIS;
Offsides: WEST SHORE 0, BERKELEY PREPARATORY 0.
