Springwood claims boys’ soccer title 4-1 over Evangel
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LANETT — Having won titles in 2023 and 2024, the Springwood School boys’ soccer entered the 2026 AISA state championship game with the weight of their own lofty expectations on their backs.
The Wildcats were 16-0-0, facing the prospect of the program’s first unblemished, undefeated season and an Evangel Christian School eager to pay them back for two regular-season defeats.
In the end, Nico Burriel’s brace and goals from Nova Hoang and Cooper Key powered Springwood to a 4-1 win over the Lightning at Montgomery Soccer Stadium on April 17.
The Wildcats finish 17-0-0, which is believed to be the first season in school history where they finish without any defeats or draws. It is also the program’s third boys soccer state championship in four years.
Under the bleachers during halftime, Springwood head coach Taylor O’Neill gave an impassioned speech to his team about fighting 40 more minutes for a memory they would carry for the rest of their lives.
With the Wildcats only ahead 2-1 in that moment, that message was received loud and clear as Springwood scored early in the second half and never looked back.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” O’Neill said. “As much as it comes down to the actual game of soccer, it also comes down to how much the players want it. And I feel like today, our players just wanted it that little bit more than their players did. And I don’t feel like it was an uneven contest. I think [Evangel] played absolutely superb and had a good game plan. They stuck to it and it worked. But I think in the end, our willingness to do anything it took to win got us over the line.”
After volunteering at Springwood last year under former head coach John Lanier, O’Neill credited the program’s development to him and the kind of players he recruited into the program.
“This entire team is down to him,” O’Neill said. “He’s done the recruitment and got the boys to where they are today. They just needed a little bit of guidance to get here, especially after losing last year. Everyone had a bitter taste in their mouth, and they all wanted to make it right.”
On the pitch, Burriel, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Lucas Albani, Thor Papera and Felipe Moura, was magic. His first half strike restored the Wildcats’ lead, and his second goal in the opening minutes of the second half cemented a lead they wouldn’t again relinquish.
“It’s just like a dream. I came here wishing just to play soccer; I didn’t expect to win anything, I didn’t expect this at all,” Burriel said. “I’m really proud. Everyone played their best, and we did everything we could to win this.”
The Wildcats got off to a dream start as Hoang opened the scoring eight minutes into the game with a contested finish, holding off a defender and slotting the ball home with the help of a slight deflection.
Already down 1-0, Evangel equalized just over eight minutes later after Springwood’s defense failed to clear a blocked shot in the box.
However, the Wildcats’ response was swift.
Burriel restored the lead with 17:30 remaining before halftime, finishing from outside the left post past the goalkeeper. He then doubled his tally less than 90 seconds into the second half, pouncing on a parried save and volleying the ball into the top right corner from a tight angle.
Evangel’s hopes of a comeback took a further blow seven minutes into the second half when a player was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Springwood continued to press with the man advantage, and the pressure paid off eight minutes later when Key finished a short cutback cross from Albini directly in front of goal to round out the scoring.
Down a man, the Lightning found themselves under immense pressure from there as the Wildcats pressed their advantage and poured shots in on goal.
Springwood Girls and Boys State Semifinals
The Wildcats’ state championship victory came one day after they held on for a gritty 3-2 win over Fort Dale Academy in the semifinals. In that game, the Wildcats found themselves similarly up 2-1 at halftime and weathered a furious comeback attempt by the Eagles.
For the Lady Wildcats, however, a historic season came to a close in the state semifinals with a 7-0 defeat to Evangel’s girls team. The Springwood girls team finished with a 9-5 record, which set a new school record for the most wins in a girls soccer season.
