SDA beat CCA in their annual game for the Academy Cup on Thursday, Dec. 18.  Last year, SDA beat CCA 3-0 for the Academy cup and there was a lot riding on the shoulders of the Mustangs to get the win to continue the reign as the “better Academy.” The game was 1-1 until the last minute; junior Owen Ereso scored a goal for the win.

A huge crowd, filled with alumni and SDA students, filled one half of the stands, with parents in the middle, and CCA students on the other side. It was a great outcome for the boys’ soccer team.

In the beginning of the game, many shots were taken by both teams. A free kick resulting in a header barely missed the goal by the Mustangs and a slide tackle by senior defender Kevin Gallagher to steal the ball before a shot from the Ravens, set the pace of the game.

Through the first half, the ball went back and forth. Just before the half was over,  the Mustangs took a 1-0 lead. Jonathan Sabouri, sophomore, took the ball down the field and passed to senior Nathanial Bloom who took a shot and scored. The whole SDA student section and parents erupted with cheers.

The second half of the game continued much like the first with both teams taking shots on goal. With the half coming to an end, SDA saw the win in their sights but CCA wouldn’t go down without a fight. The Ravens got the ball into the Mustang’s box and scored. The CCA side of the stands screamed and cheered starting a chant: C-C-A. The mustang crowd, however, soon followed up with a cheer, showing support of their own: S-D-A.

Both sides of the stands were heating up as the game dwindled down to the last two minutes. Everyone wondering what would happen if the game ended in a tie. Who would take the trophy? However it did not have to come down to that. With a couple plays left till the whistle blew, Bloom passed the ball to Ereso who shot and scored. When asked about the game, Bloom said, “The game turned out to be a classic SDA vs. CCA close game with SDA grabbing the last minute win.”

Shortly after the goal by the Mustangs, the whistle blew and the crowd went to go rush the field. However, due to last year, and the placement of a SDA flag in the middle of CCA’s field, no one was allowed on the field. Although not allowed on the field, the students and parents still congratulated the boys with cheers from the side, and once again, the Mustangs walked away with the Academy Cup.