Soccer- CHC 2, Bishop O’Connell 1

Paired with Virginia’s #2 seed, Bishop O’Connell, the #4 Dolphins looked to defend the 2017 DI State Championship. Aided by a strong first half, the Dolphins took home the second straight DI State Tournament title on Friday night. On a cold, wet night, Cape Henry was off to a fast start as Wladimir Gassant put the Dolphins on the board in the 13^th minute. George Selamaj played the ball across the six-yard box, where Wlad caught up to the pass and got enough of his foot on the ball to finish the first score of the night. Bishop O’Connell, attempting to play the ball behind the Dolphins’ defensive line from O’Connell’s own back line, was caught on a counter play in the 37^th minute when Grant Shepherd played a swinging cross into the box. Landon Clay elevated over his mark and headed the ball through the keeper’s hands to give the Dolphins a 2-0 lead with halftime quickly approaching. The first 20 minutes off the second half were quiet as both teams adjusted to the halftime gameplan. Bishop O’Connell shortened the lead in the 60^th minute, scoring a breakaway goal to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of the Dolphins. The Dolphins held Bishop O’Connell scoreless for the final 20 minutes of the night, hanging on to repeat the trifecta for the second year in a row.