Fayetteville Academy recalls first state soccer title in 1984
By Earl Vaughan Jr, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The Eagles soccer team, coached by
Today, the Academy will take on Fayetteville Christian at
A handful of players gathered on campus earlier this week to relive the title game. Others, like
The memories they shared involved a common theme. It was a bitterly cold night, and as the game continued to drag on one scoreless minute after another, players were becoming exhausted and cramping on the field.
"It was probably 33 or 34 degrees," said
He recalled one incident late in the game where a player from Wesleyan collapsed with a cramp on the Academy's end of the field.
Stout said a
"That's when coaches started talking to each other," Stout said. "They were afraid we might injure somebody."
The game was played before current rules that call for a penalty kick shootout to end overtime play.
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The lone goal for the Academy was scored by
Dewar, who operates a retirement planning firm in
"I remember it was a header," Dewar said of the goal. "I scored a third of my goals on headers."
Dewar said it was some years before he grasped how big being the first team to win a state title for the school was. "I think it inspired the school to go to a higher level in all sports," he said. "The ice had been broken and it was now expected, and it keeps going."
Reneau, the goalkeeper for the Academy, gave up the game's initial goal but rebounded to record 15 saves the rest of the way, including a diving save late in overtime to preserve the tie.
Now a retired
"It was the sudden death part of it," he said. "If they scored, it was all over."
Reneau transferred to the Academy from Westover and only played at the school in the championship season. He developed a close bond with Thomas, who had offered him private instruction in goalkeeping.
"He knew where I was coming from and vice versa," Reneau said. "I met with him once or twice a week at Methodist and he trained me."
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"When you look back over 30 years, it was the right decision," he said. "It feels great for the band of brothers we had that night. I don't recall us arguing, the stuff you see today in pro sports. We were never like that. We had great chemistry."
Brothers
"Who would have thought 30 years ago they're still doing it," Sean said, looking around the lobby of the
"We were the first, and it's continued from there."
Stout agreed. "We were never going to run out of gas," he said. "He brought a style of soccer that was not being played at the time. He spread the field way out, taught us a different way to play."
"I've learned to appreciate what it takes to get to that level," said Molnar, who played for the first three state soccer champions at
"You try to pass it on as best you can."
Dewar suggested that one of the most important lessons the Academy players learned from their championship season was the same one made famous by N.C. State coach
"We were underdogs," Dewar said. "It had never been done before. Here was our chance. Folks gave it their all, and we brought home the banner for the gym and the first state championship in school history."
Scholastic sports editor
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