Senior Seraphin Iradukunda second-half strike was all Burlington needed on Saturday as the Seahorses (17-1) defeated Essex for their first Division 1 crown since 2008.
Countdown to championship: 2 minutes. BHS vs. Essex. 1st opportunity since 2012 for Seahorses.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Hundreds of fans filled metal bleachers at Buck Hard Field for the championship matchup.
Crowd: Standing room only. #vtplayoffs pic.twitter.com/Kq3v2IgXaY
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Action underway at Buck Hard Field as Essex and BHS face off in D1 soccer title game. #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Superfans waiting for the first strike! pic.twitter.com/qkrpnKy09z
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Scoreless at half. #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
BHS with the edge in first half possession. #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
The Seahorses' best attempt in the first half was a hook-shot to the far right corner by Campbell Smith, which was batted away by leaping Essex goalie Paul Federico.
GOOAAALLLLLLL for BHS: Seraphin Iradukunda, 11, strikes. 1-0 BHS #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
The scoring drought didn't last long for Burlington, as Iradukunda found the back of the net on an 18-yard laser after taking a bouncing pass from a teammate and dribbling up.
Loud cheers coming from the BHS student section! #vtplayoffs pic.twitter.com/OzMQEQFYNy
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Still 1-0 BHS lead over Essex with under ten minutes left in regulation. #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Burlington's solid defense continued to shine, not allowing a goal in four consecutive playoff games. The back line only allowed nine tallies the entire season.
BHS holding on going into the final few minutes. #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
STATE CHAMPS!!!!
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
The clock wound down, and the buzzer sounded. BHS had won their first boys soccer state championship since 2008. Players and fans celebrated on the field, as the local media rushed to capture the Seahorses accepting their trophy.
FINAL: BHS 1, Essex 0 #vtplayoffs
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
BHS celebrating in style. #vtplayoffs #vthssoccer pic.twitter.com/Qxw2YrZXqO
— Alex Abrami (@aabrami5) November 5, 2016
BHS for the win! #vtplayoffs #D1statechampions pic.twitter.com/XpaeLeGWGY
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
Your 2016 Vermont D-I boys soccer state champion Burlington Seahorses.#vtplayoffs pic.twitter.com/sW7czkMa21
— Jack Korte (@jackrkorte) November 5, 2016
Players celebrate with Superfans. BHS Boys Soccer D1 State Champions. #vtplayoffs pic.twitter.com/I2hZeKuWdm
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) November 5, 2016
