Legacy FC now has two three-peat champions

Even though the club is just over 10 years old, coming into Sunday's WV State Cup finals at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Soccer Complex, Legacy FC had never had a team win three straight championship titles.

Now they have two.

Legacy FC 2011 (U14) Black - Boys became the first three-time champion Sunday Morning with a 2-nil win over WVFC 2011 Black.

Their membership in the exclusive club did not last long when later in the afternoon, Legacy FC 2008 (U17) Black- Boys duplicated feat in dramatic fashion.

Falling behind 2-0 in the first half, Legacy FC 2008 tied the match before halftime and grabbed the win over FC Alliance 2008B on a header from Hagen Hall in the second half.

"That is a testament to this team," Legacy FC 2008 head coach Jerry Umberger said. "They have a heart and the will that I just can't explain. They find a way to win, whatever it takes."

Legacy FC 2011 (U14) Black head coach Jay Rist could not hold back the emotions Sunday morning after his team's victory.

And for good reason.

"Jerry Umberger, Jason Logan and myself created Legacy FC back in 2014 to try and give our kids a good travel experience like we had growing up," Rist said. "Over the years we have grown, obviously, and over the last several years we have had great success. This 2011 group was the first U14 (WV) State Cup champion in the history of the club. The first team to go back-to-back-to-back."

"I have had them since they were seven years old," Rist went on to say. "The first one was really sweet, but to do this, it takes forgetting what you have done and prepping every season. It is a special group and it is special to me too because my son is on this team. I love these guys dearly. It is like I have 15 sons."

While WVFC 2011 Black controlled the possession early in the match, it was Legacy FC Black 2011 that scored first on a strike from Easton Miller. Before the half ended, Cooper (Hanlon) Sabbag had made it 2-nil Legacy who never relented the remainder of the match.

"Cooper is from Lewisburg and Easton is from Princeton," Rist said. "What is special about this group, unlike (Legacy FC 2008 Black) who are mostly from Beckley, I have a melting pot on this team. I have Beckley, Princeton, Lewisburg, Oak Hill and Summersville. It is a melting pot of players and special group."

Winning a third straight title did not look good in the early going for Legacy FC 2008 Black.

First, a solid shot on goal found its mark before a foul was called in the box on keeper Bryson Doss. Doss appeared to make a play on the ball before the attacker went down, but was instead, called for the foul.

The ensuing penalty kick gave FC Alliance 2008B a 2-0 lead.

Oddly enough, it did not appear to give them the momentum. Legacy FC stormed back with a vengeance.

"It is composure. They have had it for a long time," Umberger said. "It amazes me how they can withstand pressure and keep going."

Moments later, Hall went on the attack and nearly scored the first goal of the match for Legacy FC, but his shot ricocheted off the far post. Waiting to clean it up was Andrew Holt who knocked it in, cutting the deficit in half.

Legacy FC evened the match before halftime on a beautiful cross from Judah Hrabosky which found Hall on the other end. Hall's header tied the game at the break.

Maintaining the pressure on FC Alliance, Hall scored the eventual game-winner with a header sent in on a corner from Campbell Fix.

While Legacy FC turned up the pressure on the attack, FC Alliance was also limited to minimal opportunities after taking the 2-nil advantage.

"Defense was the key," Umberger said. "The difference was how well the defense played."

Sunday was the fifth time Legacy FC 2008 and FC Alliance 2008B have met for the WV State Cup Championship. Legacy FC has now four of the five matches.

The two Legacy FC champions now advances to the USYS Eastern Regional NCS in Loudon, VA., June 28 - July 3.

The USYS National Championships will be played in Orlando, FL, July 22-27.

WVFC 2009 Boys - Black defeated Legacy FC 2009 (U16) Boys - Black 3-0 in their championship match, while Legacy FC 2013 (U12) Girls - White dropped its title match, 2-1, to FC Alliance 2013/2014G.