Waterford boys soccer takes 2A title, moves into 3A

Waterford's boys soccer team came into the 2007 season kicking and screaming, but — as usual — the Ravens handled themselves with dignity and class.

In the process, they collected their second state championship in school history, winning Class 2A in its inaugural season.

Waterford will depart for 3A next year, but it leaves a pretty big imprint on the brand-new classification. The Ravens won their three state tournament games by a combined score of 21-3, including an impressive 3-0 win over Rowland Hall in the state final.

Waterford was sensational in the first half of that game, leaving coach Bob Capener, who's coached several outstanding teams over the years, to say that it might've been the best half he's ever seen a Raven team play.

"You always care about the score," he said, "but — down deep in your heart as a coach — you want your team to play its best ball at the end. And they did. So that's a great way to end it. I said, 'Hey, if you play your best ball and lose, I'm happy. I'm OK with that.'

"Fortunately," he added, "when we're playing our best ball, it's hard for teams to stay with us."

When the new 2A league was finalized a year ago, Waterford recognized the vast benefits it would have on the smaller schools around the state. Trouble was, the Ravens had been competing — very successfully — in 3A for years, and they wanted to continue the 3A tradition they had established.

The UHSAA initially wouldn't let the Ravens stay up in 3A, leaving the boys soccer team to play in 2A this year. Since then, however, the UHSAA has allowed Waterford to become a 3A school, despite its tiny enrollment and lack of football team.

Accordingly, the 2007 season will be remembered — for now — as Waterford's lone foray into the 2A class.

And what a foray it was.

The thing that made Waterford's performance in the final so special was the fact that Rowland Hall had given the Ravens everything they wanted during the regular season.

Rowland Hall beat Waterford in overtime the first time they met in the regular season, and then the Winged Lions led in the second half of the second meeting before Waterford escaped with a 2-1 come-from-behind win.

But in the title game, Waterford left no doubt about who was the dominant team.