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By MIKE READLING, Times Staff WriterBucs dominate Delray Beach American Heritage, take crown with 2-0 championship victory.
FORT LAUDERDALE - To the casual observer it was a simple play.
Berkeley Prep forward Scott Strickland carried the ball, virtually unmarked, to the front of the Delray Beach American Heritage goal during Saturday's Class 2A state championship game. As he slowed up and a defender approached, Davis tapped the ball back to teammate Tyler Davis, who was running directly at the goal.
To Berkeley coach Dave Zimmerman it didn't matter what happened next. What he had just seen was the reason his team was playing in the title game, and - if it kept happening - there was a good chance his team would be the one holding the championship trophy.
As it turned out, Davis' tap was the second of two Berkeley shots that found the net in a 2-0 win. The victory gave the Bucs their fourth state title and first since 1995 when they won their third straight.
It also allowed Berkeley to set a school record for wins and keeper Andrew McAdams to notch his school-record 14th shutout. Berkeley did not allow a goal in any of its five playoff games. Besides providing the final margin in Berkeley's amazing run to state, Davis' conversion of Strickland's pass also marked his 50th goal this season. It was a mark that was a long time coming - for both Davis and his teammates.
"He had a very successful season, and I'm very confident in his ability to score," Strickland said. "I knew 50 was a big milestone, and I'm just happy I was able to help him get there."
According to Zimmerman it's that attitude that brought the Bucs (29-1) to the top of their classification.
"Before the game I was nervous because I wanted this so much for this group of players," the 29-year coach said. "This is a special group of guys. Their chemistry, the respect they have for each other. They wanted this win for everybody on the team."
It seemed as though everybody on the team was willing to get in on the action.
The Bucs peppered the American Heritage goal with 29 shots, giving them 62 for the tournament while only allowing 12. Balls ricocheted off the posts, crossbar and goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, who made several diving saves, keeping the score within reason. In fact, if ever there was a 2-0 blowout, Saturday's game was it.
Heritage packed the penalty box, playing for overtime and ultimately hoping for penalty kicks from the kickoff. Part of the reason was the Stallions were forced to play without second-leading scorer Gabriel Taboada, who was red-carded Friday night for excessive celebration after a goal.
The Stallions also lost Alejandro Gonzales to a red card in the 70th minute and played a man down the rest of the game.
Not that it would have mattered if Taboada (19 goals, 28 assists) played. The Stallions (16-5-2) barely managed to muster any kind of attack whatsoever, finishing with nine shots.
That's a major reason why when the bigger of the two trophies was handed out, it was Berkeley's players passing it around over their heads, making sure everyone got a chance to touch it. Zimmerman wouldn't expect it to happen any other way.