D'Zurilla's goal decides 1-A soccer crown

 RALEIGH - Dixon's state title game was a contest of inches.

Senior Chelsea D'Zurilla scored a fortunate first-half goal and the Bulldogs survived a handful of scares in a 1-0 win over Polk County Saturday in the NCHSAA 1-A girls soccer championship game at Paul Derr Track Field.

Junior defender Jaime Edens was chosen as the outing's Most Valuable Player after she spearheaded a Dixon defense that sweated some close calls and held back several late Wolverine pushes as the Bulldogs celebrated their first girls soccer title in team history.

"I am elated for the girls," said Dixon head coach Kevin Hicks, who also directed the Bulldogs to a state boys crown two years ago. "They worked hard and they believed in each other."

Dixon's victory in the second annual 1-A title game left the Bulldogs, a wild card from the Coastal Plains Conference, at 20-3-2. The state triumph came after Dixon fell in last season's regional final.

"From the beginning of the season we all wanted to win state," said D'Zurilla. "I am just very shocked and happy."

Meanwhile, Polk County, the top seed from the Western Highlands Conference, exited the field on the campus of North Carolina State University at 16-6-2 after recording a 5-2 shots on frame advantage.

"It's tough to be in the losing end of a game like this," said Wolverines head coach Lennox Charles. "We had opportunities that we didn't take advantage of, especially in the first half."

Fortunately for the Bulldogs, D'Zurilla capitalized on one of her club's rare chances.

The forward tallied the contest's lone score when she found the net with 26 minutes, 26 seconds left until halftime. D'Zurilla played a loose ball from about 30 yards out, took a few dribbles and delivered a shot. The attempt was so powerful and low to the ground that Polk County junior goalkeeper Jazmine Bridgeman was unable to handle it properly as the ball took one hop between her legs and crossed the line just in time.

"Coach is always telling us to shoot, no matter from how far," said D'Zurilla.

Bridgeman finished with one save, but another could have changed the game's complexion.

"At this time it's all about taking advantage of mistakes," said Charles. "And Dixon did what they had to do."

D'Zurilla's score was all that was needed as the Bulldogs backfield of Edens, senior Brandie Tingley and sophomores Jessica Thompson and Skyler Marker provided a wall in front of the net. Though the backfield at times bent, the defensive performance was strong enough for Dixon's eighth shutout this year. Senior goalkeeper Lesleigh Thompson made four saves.

"We knew we had to get to the ball first and also take no risks," said Edens. "We all pulled together."

D'Zurilla knew what made her squad's defense so productive, not just in the state final but throughout the season.

"Our backs have faith in each other," she said. "And Jaime plays incredible."

The backfield kept composure, even when pushed to the limit. A few minutes following D'Zurilla's score, Jessica Thompson made perhaps the defensive play of the contest when she pinned a close-range shot from Polk County senior Kerry Cunningham to the right post before clearing it out. Cunningham had played a loose ball in the box with an open net and Jessica, not in position to go ahead for a clear-out, did the next best thing by sandwiching the ball between her body and the post.

"When Jessica made that play I was like, ‘Oh my god' " recalled Lesleigh Thompson. "I am so glad I have a good defense."

Moments later, Dixon sophomore Paige Schoonover made a heads-up defensive play when she kicked away a Wolverines' shot at an open net. Lesleigh Thompson also emerged with a key save with 12:45 remaining when she reached high in the air on a shot lobbed by Polk County senior Rachel Sain.

"The last two games we had given up last-minute goals," Hicks recalled. "The girls knew that too, but we were determined not to let that happen today and I credit that to our focus and intensity on defense."

Junior Jenna Paramore was another key to the Bulldogs defense. Her ability to win 50-50 balls in the middle made it where the Wolverines were unable to feed throughballs.

"We did a good job getting the ball out and pushing it wide," said Paramore. "We did what we worked on this week."

Dixon              1    0  -    1

Polk County    0    0  -    0

GOALS - D: D'Zurilla. IN GOAL - D: Thompson (4 saves). P: Bridgeman (1 save). SHOTS ON GOAL - D 2, P 5. CORNER KICKS - D 0, P 7. RECORDS - D: 20-3-2, state 1-A champion. P: 16-6-2, state 1-A runner-up.