The 40-degree temperature didn't matter to Mitchell. As the Mustangs heard the final whistle, assuring them a spot in the Class 4A state semifinals next week, the players ran to the opposite side of the field and slid headfirst into the standing water on the sideline in front of their fans.
With a 1-0 win against Celebration in the region final Friday, Mitchell (23-2-3) earned its first state berth not only as a soccer program, but in the school's history.
"We didn't talk about it at the beginning of the season," senior Max Rockwell said. "You just don't, but some of us, if not a lot of us, were definitely thinking about it in the back of heads."
On a rainy and windy night, Rockwell scored the lone goal on a 25-yard free kick, sending it to the left corner of the net less than 10 minutes into the game.
The Mustangs locked down Celebration's offense, which ran through speedy captain Santiago Echeverri. A stout defense led by Chris McVeigh and nine saves by goalkeeper Josh Berres helped keep the Storm (17-5) on their heels.
The last three minutes were intense, as a Mitchell player earned a red card. That gave the Storm numerous chances, including a ball that slipped past Berres, but it was cleared by Robbie Wallace.
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