Bridgeport's boys' soccer team made history by capturing the Class AAA state title - the first title in school history - by topping top-seeded Nitro 3-1 at the Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley this afternoon.
 
"It's hard to really express. It hasn't settled in yet," said Coach Keith Dumas. "To bounce back after losing Grayson (Church to a torn ACL at the start of the postseason) … one of the best players in the state, and then do what this team did to rally around him and put together a run ending in a title. As a team you can't ask for anything more."
 
Offensively, Dumas could not have asked for more than what he got from Riel Figueroa's two second-half goals that proved to be the difference in the contest. The biggest of those goals came late when he managed to get a shot in over the keeper with 3:08 left in the contest to give the Indians a chance to exhale on their way to the winner's circle.
 
"Riel is so elusive. He's a goal fish. He'll take a shot that won't be near anything, and the next one is in the back of the net because he believes he can finish the ball," said Dumas. "That's his job, and he knows it's his job. … The two goals he scored were off hard work and getting around the defender to get in position to put the kicks away."
 
The Indians end a spectacular season with a 20-1-2 record. It also marked the return to the state tournament for the first time since 2012 when the Indians with then assistant coach, and now current head coach, Dumas on the sidelines, in what turned out to be a setback to eventual state champion Charleston Catholic.
 
The ending would be different this time. And a hint of what was to come came early after intermission when Figueroa's first goal broke a second-half deadlock and came as he was falling to the ground. The score from close range came with 23 minutes left and put Bridgeport ahead 2-1, and would be the only offense until Figueroa scored again to ice it.



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