Charlottesville boys soccer wants to set a tone from the opening moments of a game.
“We try and come out with the most energy you’ve ever seen,” said CHS goalkeeper Jake Engel. “We know we’re going to fight through the game, whether we have the talent (edge) that day or not, we’re going to fight.”
Charlottesville boys soccer didn’t waste any time bringing that energy and going to work on Tuesday night in the Class 4 state quarterfinals.
Just 14 minutes into the game, Eddison Duolo ripped off the first of two straight goals and from there the Black Knights rolled, beating Bassett 6-0 to earn a spot in the Class 4 state final four.
Duolo knows a big part of the Black Knights’ success is their honest communication – they’ve poured into each other so much that they can be honest with each other on gameday.
“It’s really sticking our head down and listening to each other – we never take the criticism to heart, it’s for a better cause at the end of the day,” Duolo said. “If my teammate says lower your head and take that shot, I’m going to lower my head and take that shot, I’m not going to think he’s being cocky, trying to tell me how to play my game.”
After his older brother staked Charlottesville to a 2-0 lead, Thimson Duolo went to work himself and scored with just under 20 minutes to play in the first half. Then Amin Zakari headed in a corner kick and it was 4-0 Black Knights with 14 minutes to play before the break.
“Our team chemistry is what separates us from every team out here,” Duolo said. “A lot of us have been playing with each other for a long time, some of us since we were 11, 10 years old and that’s why it’s so fun out here.”
After the half, Thimson Duolo got another goal with 35 minutes left and Abas Noor found the back of the net with 24 minutes left to wrap up the scoring.
Engel posted a clean sheet for the shutout and the Black Knights move on now to the state semifinals Friday at 3 p.m. where they’ll lock up with a Tabb team that beat Goochland 6-0 Tuesday night.
