The MVHS boys soccer team made school history by defeating Cardinal Newman 2-1 in the NorCal Division II final and claiming their first state title on Mar. 8.

“NorCal [championships] has only been a thing for a few years, but this is the first time in school history to make the final so to win on our first time is a great school accomplishment,” senior goalkeeper Parker Lunn said. “But it’s also just a great team accomplishment.”

The team entered the game having been knocked out of CCS in the semifinals, so they viewed NorCal as a form of redemption, players said.

“It means a lot to be able to win states coming off of the CCS defeat a few weeks ago,” senior midfielder Aidan Wong said.

Cardinal Newman started the match with more of the momentum, peppering Lunn’s goal with shots. About 15 minutes into the game, senior MVHS midfielder Niko Dekovic hit the crossbar off of a volley. In the 31st minute, Wong scored the opener, spinning around his defender and slotting it at the back post to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

Coming out of halftime, the Cardinals began attacking with more intensity, and in the 51st minute, Newman midfielder Devon Carranza looped a shot over Lunn to tie the game. The Spartans bounced back however, and in the 70th minute, senior forward Caleb Toney played a through ball to Wong, who shot it past the Newman goalkeeper to retake the lead.

“I wasn’t able to score too much this season,” Wong said. “So scoring two goals in my final game means a lot to me.”

After scoring their second goal, MVHS dropped back allowing the Cardinals to dominate possession. However, they held strong, and as the final whistle blew, the team stormed the field to celebrate.

This win marks the end of an era for many MVHS seniors, who had been a major part of the boys soccer program’s recent success. However, Lunn and Wong said that every member of the team was crucial to winning this title.

“Everyone played a role,” Lunn said. “So we all deserve this.”