Here's how Riverside boys soccer won a third straight high school state championship
COLUMBIA − Riverside boys soccer won a third consecutive state championship Friday with a 4-1 victory against James Island in the high school Class AAAA final at Irmo High School.
Keagan Pace scored two goals, while Fabian Menendez and Andres Moreno scored 39 seconds apart in the second half to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead. Goalkeeper Casey Smith had a momentum-changing save on a penalty kick when it was 1-0 in the second half.
"It's like a dream," Riverside coach Scott Columbia said. "To accomplish one is extremely hard. To get three is unbelievable."
Riverside won back-to-back state titles in the Class AAAAA division in 2021 and 2022. The school was reclassified into and had to beat rival and defending champion in its own right, Eastside, in the Upper State championship.
"All season it's been about family," said Menendez, a senior who was state player of the year last season. "Our plan all season was to stick together, push each other, help each other and win another championship."
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Riverside has 15 seniors, including Pace (DePaul signee), Menendez (Wofford signee) and Smith.
Pace scored eight goals in Riverside's last three games. He had three each in each of the past two as the Warriors rolled into the final.
"Our seniors are going home happy with our third straight 'ship," Pace said. "It's incredible and pretty unbelievable. The younger ones really wanted to do it for us and they had to step up. Now they're going to be the next part of this team and, hopefully, get back here next year carrying on our legacy."
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Two candidates for player of the year
There are two obvious front-runners for Class AAAA boys soccer player of the year and they're both on the Riverside team.
Pace finished with 18 goals and Menendez had 11. They both have with 38 points.
"If one of us wins it, that means our whole team wins it," Menendez said. "It doesn't matter to me which one of us it is."
Best birthday ever for Riverside player
Daniel Garcia celebrated couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his 18th birthday than to help Riverside win the state championship.
Riverside's student section sang happy birthday to him and have him a huge ovation when he came off the field for the first time midway through the first half.
"Nothing but love for them," Garcia said. "That was an awesome moment that I will remember the rest of my life."
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Riverside boys soccer wins third straight high school state title
