Michael Hackworth goal gives Tabb redemption, first boys soccer state title in 25 years
Tabb junior Michael Hackworth says he has never worked harder since Meridian humiliated him and his teammates by five goals in last year’s Class 3 state semifinals. He and the Tigers earned their redemption Saturday.
Hackworth scored the only goal of the game with 27 minutes, 6 seconds remaining as the Tigers beat Meridian 1-0 in the state championship game at Courtland High. The title is the program’s third overall and the first since 1997, when head coach Scott Kuhnle guided the Tigers to the Group AA crown in his first season.
“After they knocked us out, I went home and was furious we got embarrassed,” Hackworth said. “So every single day, I spent hours working, playing soccer, going to fields and working out.
“Now, to get the chance to play them again and beat them is an amazing feeling.”
Hackworth’s second-half domination of the game was key, but the Tigers (19-1) first had to blunt the Meridian attack that blitzed them a year ago.
“Our game plan was to keep them out of rhythm and disrupt their beautiful passes,” Kuhnle said of the Mustangs’ short, quick ground attack.
Many contributed. The quartet of Pierre Ibrahim, Kyrillos Henin, Jackson Shifflett and Jacob Kimball was steadfast as usual, while Andrew Fiocca, dominant in the air as always, kept the Mustangs’ ground attack from launching by challenging them continually.
“Andrew’s speed is deceptive and and it’s very rare you see a striker work so hard defensively,” Kuhnle said.
Confident that his players were in control defensively and fitter than the Mustangs after a scoreless first half, Kuhnle pushed the attack forward to start the second half and “unleashed” Hackworth. Whether on the run, throwing the ball inbound or kicking it on set pieces, Hackworth created one dangerous opportunity after another for himself and his teammates the final 40 minutes.
The one he cashed in on came via a thru-ball from Henin. He gathered it at the top of the box, dribbled to the middle and left-footed it into the goal to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
“It was a great pass from Kyrillos to my sweet spot where I play on the right side at center-mid,” Hackworth said. “I had confidence all game that I could cut in and score a goal from there.
“The big difference in the second half is that we wanted it more.”
The goal proved to be enough as Tigers goalkeeper Logan Stoumbaugh and the defense kept the Mustangs at bay after falling back late into defensive mode. As the Tigers hoisted the trophy, Kuhnle reflected on winning a second state title 25 years after the first.
“Our goal was to meet Meridian again because the state title goes through them, and to beat them in the final makes it more monumental,” he said. “You wonder if you’re ever going to win one again and I’m fortunate my wife [Christy] has put up with me disappearing from February to June for 25 years.
“I don’t have many years left coaching, so to win one late in my career is a great way to finish it up.”
