DOVER – The six seniors on Caravel’s boys soccer team have seen the highs and lows over four years.
They went out on top Saturday, and it was pure elation.
“So much we’ve been through, and to finally get here again and win it and lift the trophy, I’m just so happy to be here,” Zain Akhtar said. “Happiest moment right now.”
Zain and his brother, Zayd, each scored as the Buccaneers rolled to the school’s sixth DIAA Division II championship, 4-0 over Saint Mark’s at Dover High.
It was the second straight title for Caravel, but it hasn’t always been rosy for this group of seniors.
They were freshmen on a team that went 4-11. Then as sophomores they reached the playoffs, but lost in the quarterfinals.
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“All these seniors have been through the grinder, been through the dirt and have come out victorious,” Caravel coach Lance Berry said. “… All six of them fully deserve this, and it’s just a testament to their hard work and how much of a team we are.”
Third-seeded Saint Mark’s (14-4) was making its first appearance in a final since 2011, when the tournament was one division. The Spartans generated some big chances early, as Caravel goalkeeper Alejandro Marte made a diving save on a shot by Michael Smyth in the 21st minute and deflected another hard shot over the crossbar two minutes later.
The top-seeded Bucs (16-2) had their chances, too, and Zayd Akhtar finally converted with a sharp pivot and a hard drive in the 29th minute.
“I did a little cut back, another cut back and a cut back again,” he said. “… Then left corner, and that’s first goal. Good effort.”
Just like that, Caravel had the momentum.
“He was very crafty going into the box and found a way to find the back of the net,” Barry said. “… It broke the seal.”
The Bucs broke it wide open with three goals in a five-minute span in the second half.
Michael Cooke got it started in the 56th minute. Then Zain Akhtar chipped one past the goalkeeper on a breakaway in the 59th minute. Then Miles Hood poured in a third goal in the 61st minute.
Suddenly, it was 4-0.
“I saw the ball go through and I was like, ‘He’s not reaching this. I know I’m faster than him,’” Zain Akhtar said of his goal. “So I just ran, I took off. I cut in between the center back and just got it past the goalkeeper.”
The only problem was, the Bucs still had 19 minutes to play. It seemed like forever.
“It was so hard,” Zain Akhtar said. “We were looking at the clock, like when is going to be the final whistle? When it hit, happiness just rolled.”
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
