Cardinal Gibbons beats Charlotte Catholic for 3-A boys soccer crown

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CARY -- Sophomore forward Ade Taiwo's two goals helped lift Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons to a 3-2 decision over Charlotte Catholic in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A men's soccer championship at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday.

Taiwo was the Most Valuable Player in the championship as the Crusaders rallied from an early 1-0 deficit and avenged a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Catholic during the regular season.

Charlotte Catholic got on the board in the 12th minute when Roland Minogue assisted on a goal by Chris Gorospe to put the Cougars ahead 1-0. But less than a minute later, Chase Rhode tallied for Cardinal Gibbons to tie the game.

Taiwo scored an unassisted goal in the 33rd minute to give Cardinal Gibbons a 2-1 advantage at the half, and then he found the back of the net off an assist from Dom Finnelli in the 55th minute for his 18th goal of the season to close out the scoring. Taiwo scored seven goals in the Crusaders' six state playoff games.

Gibbons had an 18-12 advantage in shots and had seven shots on goal to three for Catholic. The Crusaders recorded six corner kicks to four for Catholic.

Cardinal Gibbons was in the NCHSAA championship match for the sixth time in the seven years and claimed its fourth state title in that span. The Crusaders closed the season with a 24-2-1 mark, with the only losses to Catholic and to 4-A finalist Cary Green Hope. Charlotte Catholic, in the NCHSAA men's soccer finals for a record 16th time with seven previous titles, ended a 22-4 campaign.

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.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2011 STATE MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS
WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
 
3-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Charlotte Catholic                                  1            0            --1
Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons                        2            1            --3
 
SCORING
12th minute            CC--Chris Gorospe (Roland Minogue)
13th minute            CG--Chase Rhode (Tyler Zimmerman)
33rd minute            CG--Ade Taiwo
55th minute            CG--Ade Taiwo (Dom Finelli)