Christian Brothers edges Father Ryan, adds to TSSAA record with 11th boys soccer state title

MURFREESBORO - Christian Brothers' David Martin was in perfect position, just in front of the Father Ryan goal to catch a well-placed cross  from freshman midfielder Cullen Brummer.

He met the ball in stride with his head, knocking it into the top left corner of the net for the go-ahead score.

"I had three or four headers that felt pretty good, too, but that was the one that went in," Martin said. 

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The Purple Wave (14-2-4) claimed their second state boys soccer title in five years with a 2-1 win over Father Ryan (7-6-3) in the Division II-AA championship game Thursday night.

"It feels great. These kids deserve all the credit," Christian Brothers coach Nick Glaser said. "They put the work in and I’m just so happy for them. They invested in fitness all year. We knew we had a chance to play at 4 p.m., and we trained that way. We ran at 4 p.m. every day."

Christian Brothers has the most boys soccer state titles of any program in the state, with 11. It's also the second state title since Glaser was hired in 2016. 

"That’s what the expectations are, to get to Murfreesboro every year," Glaser said. "And we’ve done that. Sometimes the ball bounces your way, and its bounced our way twice."

The Purple Wave took an early 1-0 lead when Johnny Drouillard scored off of a rebound from a free kick. Christian Brothers held Father Ryan scoreless until the 61st minute when Reese Rayhab tied the game. Then Martin's header made it 2-1 in the 69th minute and the Purple Wave held onto the lead.

"David has been clutch for us all year and it was an insane feeling when that header went in," goalkeeper Chris Krahn said. "I was a little worried when Father Ryan got that goal, but we were able to get one right back."

The Purple Wave posed nine shutouts this season and held all but two opponents to one goal or less. Christian Brothers allowed just two goals during the state tournament. 

"You’ve got to credit that to Chris Krahn, our senior goalkeeper, and Ethan Green," Glaser said. "They work well together, they communicate, and when you follow that up with Matty Wackerfuss they form a really solid spine."