ND REMAINS TOP DOG IN SOCCERFEST

To several Cape Central soccer players, Nathan LeGrand's game-winning goal was like an angel of death. The feat instantaneously triggered one player after another to collapse under the sweltering sun and melt into the turf as if the goal itself sucked the life from their bodies.

Meanwhile, LeGrand and his Notre Dame teammates were riding an adrenaline rush celebrating en masse, jumping, whooping, laughing and hugging.

Such are the emotions after a 1-0, double-overtime game between rival schools in the championship of a tournament played in sweltering conditions.

With two minutes left to go in the second overtime, LeGrand finally put an end to the emotional and physical marathon when he gathered a header from Dustin Tatum, dribbled past a defender and scored as Notre Dame successfully defended the title of its own Soccerfest.

It was the first goal Cape Central (3-1) goaltender Trevor Blattner had allowed this year.

"The goalie jumped," LeGrand recalled. "I think he thought I was going to go to the air, but I went on the ground instead. I've never had such a rush in my life."

"Right then, we didn't do a good job clearing and they found the net," said Central coach Tom Doyle. "But we had opportunities earlier in the game and if we do better on those, those last mistakes wouldn't have mattered."

Three minutes before LeGrand's game-winner, Notre Dame's Timmy Wencewicz rifled a long shot that ricocheted off the left crossbar. To that point, that was the closest either team had come to scoring.

"When he hit that rocket off the post, I thought we were doomed for a shootout," said Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn. "And I don't know any coach who would want a game to end with a shootout."

Had the game remained tied after the second overtime, it would've been decided via a shootout.

The game was as about as evenly played as possible.

Both teams played outstanding defense as neither team had many scoring chances. Notre Dame's Paul Unterreiner and Travis Siebert combined for the shutout.

Cape Central, however, was not playing at full strength as all-state midfielder Bret McNabb and junior defender Eric Daume both missed the game with injuries.

"Cape Central has got a quality team," said Wittenborn. "We were fortunate that we caught them when they had a couple of starters out."

The loss, though tough to take, will serve as motivation for the next three days as the Tigers will get a chance for vengeance Tuesday at home.

"To me, this was a very even game," said Doyle. "Both teams played well. Sometimes you get a break and sometimes you don't. That's just the way the game is played. But we've got a rematch Tuesday."

Notre Dame improved to 3-0 with the victory, a start which pleases Wittenborn especially considering his team is so young. The Bulldogs lost nine starters off last year's team.

"I knew our young kids were good, but how they'll come together against a team like Cape Central, you never know," said Wittenborn.