Franklin Academy falls to Bishop McGuinness in NCHSAA 1A boys soccer championship

Franklin Academy came up short in its quest for a second boys’ soccer state championship in three years. On Saturday, the Patriots fell 2-0 to Bishop McGuinness in a physical contest.

The teams had three yellow cards combined, and two Patriots starters left the game with injuries.

Franklin Academy (23-1-1) won the 2015 state title, but Bishop McGuinness (19-2-3) kept the Patriots off the scoreboard in this year’s version.

At times, it looked like the Patriots were playing well enough to earn a second championship, keeping possession and peppering Bishop with shots that sailed just a little high or wide.

“Our boys did an excellent job,” FA coach John Crosland said. “They were trusting each other to make plays; the ball just didn’t fall our way today.”

The Villians – that’s the Kernersville school’s mascot – scored in the 33rd minute after Brad Standen slotted in a perfect through ball from Cameron Bovender and led 1-0 at halftime despite a number of near-misses by FA.

“We just couldn’t lift our heads up and connect passes like we normally do,” Crosland said.

The Patriots pushed hard for a goal, but a 78th minute goal – a Nathan Joseph chip pass to Alan Linares across the goal mouth – wrapped up the Villians’ state title.

It was the first time the previously undefeated Patriots had been shut out all year, a testament to just how good Franklin Academy was while going undefeated in the regular season for the first time.

“Our boys have a lot to be proud of,” Crosland said. “We’ve got a great student population. They’re supportive, you saw the crowd here today. There’s a willingness and desire to get better every day.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 9:48 PM with the headline "Franklin Academy falls to Bishop McGuinness in NCHSAA 1A boys soccer championship."