2A boys final

Century 1, La Plata 0: Five Century players surrounded the ball in preparation for a free kick to make it look like any one of them would actually take the kick.

The players rushed the ball when the whistle sounded, but four backed away to let senior midfielder Alex Grasso get the touch. Grasso fired the ball, untouched, to the back of the net about 11 minutes into the game to give the Knights a 1-0 lead over La Plata.

That lone goal was all Century needed, and the Knights captured their second state championship in program history at Loyola University’s Ridley Athletic Complex on Thursday.

This was Century’s fifth tournament appearance and the Knights’ first time back in the state final since they won it in 2003.

Grasso’s early goal helped the Knights take control through most of the match — that, combined with a dominant performance by the team’s defense, which registered its eighth shutout this season.

Knights junior goalie Ethan Ricketts made a slide save under pressure from La Plata senior forward Cole Trani with 21:32 left to play in the first half.

La Plata forward Blake Davis sent a shot in from the right side of the goal, but the ball was caught by Ricketts.

Grasso took another free kick with 6:56 left in the first half, but the shot was pushed out by Warriors goalie Nick Meadows. The Knights fired back with three more shots, but the Warriors’ back post coverage survived the rush.

Century senior midfielder Connor Grow ripped a shot, fell backwards to the ground, and put his hands over his head in disbelief as he watched the ball sail just over the top of the crossbar about 10 minutes into the start of the second half.

The Knights took two set piece opportunities about a minute apart — the first was shot too high over the goal, and the second was pushed out to midfield by La Plata’s defense.