NCHSAA Soccer Logo - Generic Graphic
Nov 16, 2008
RALEIGH — Forward Candon Rusin tallied a goal and had an assist to lead Hampstead Topsail to a 3-0 shutout over Albemarle in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A men's soccer championship Sunday night at the Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium at N.C. State University.
Rusin, a 6-3, 185-pound senior, scored a goal in the 13th minute and assisted Brandon Batson's goal just three minutes later to put the Pirates in command. Rusin was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the championship match.
Colangelo, who also had a goal and an assist on the night, closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 79th minute.
Topsail outshot Albemarle 19-8 and Pirate goalkeeper Michael Hall notched the shutout, collecting six saves. Jesse Duke had nine saves in goal for Albemarle.
Topsail, making its first trip to the NCHSAA men's soccer finals, ended the year with a 17-5 record, although two of its losses were to 4-A Wilmington Laney. Albemarle, which was the 2002 1-A runner-up in its only other finals appearance, finished the season 16-6-1.
Wendy's is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program. The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as a host city sponsor for these championships, along with the city of Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors' Bureau.
This story is closed for comments.
