The Raiders receive Army National Guard national ranking trophy for rank, winning state championship and undefeated 24-0-0 record.
North Cross School was presented with the Army National Guard National Ranking Trophy during a pep rally last Thursday. The honor is part of the inaugural MaxPreps Tour of Champions for Boys Soccer presented by the Army National Guard. North Cross is one of just ten schools being honored nationwide.
The Raiders finished ranked No. 13 in the country by MaxPreps, a California-based company that ranks more than 14,000 high school boys soccer teams.
“MaxPreps is thrilled to work with the Army National Guard to honor America’s finest high school boys soccer teams with the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy,” said President and Founder, Andy Beal. “Coach Brown and the North Cross Raiders have proven on the pitch that they are among the nation’s truly elite high school soccer teams. We are happy to add boys soccer to this year’s tour and salute the coach, the young men on the team and North Cross School for a job well done.”
North Cross defeated Carlisle 1-0 to win the Virginia Independent Conference Division II state championship. This is the second title for the Raiders, who also won in 2007. North Cross finished the season undefeated at 24-0-0.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard,” said North Cross head coach James Brown. When I found out what it was all about and how few teams receive the award, I was flabbergasted. I am very excited for our guys to be part of something like this.”
The 2012 season was very special for Coach Brown and the Raiders. The young men put in a lot of hard work and effort on and off the field and it paid off. They played many close games, but battled back to win them all, finishing undefeated for the season.
Junior mid/forward Ezra Zigarwi was North Cross’s leading goal scorer. He had 21 goals and 5 assists on the season. Midfielder Christopher Pollock, also a junior, was a spark plug in the center of the field and he led the team in points with 60 (16 goals, 28 assists). Joining Pollock in the midfield was junior Jonte Chimbera, a dangerous threat on attack.
Senior sweeper Tyler Quinn led the Raiders defense along with junior goalie Bennett Holley. Holley only allowed 9 goals all season and recorded 16 shut outs while stopping 122 shots.
Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Morris of the Virginia Army National Guard presented Coach Brown and the Raiders with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy during a pep rally on Thursday.
“For the first time, Army National Guard representatives will present the Army National Guard national ranking trophy to nationally ranked boys soccer teams,” said LTC Christian J. Johnson of the Army National Guard. We take great pride in doing so because the trophy symbolizes the indomitable spirit common to high school athletes and the U.S. Soldier. It is our honor to share this symbol with the team, coaches, parents, and school. It is an award for the entire community and is much deserved.”
