But it would have been tough to tell after Sunday's N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A state championship match. The Warriors scored three of their four goals on two free kicks and a corner kick, downing host Fayetteville Academy 4-0 for their second straight state title.

"We would mess around with things for about five minutes or so at the end of practice, later on during the season, but that's about it," senior captain Brian Hadley said of the set pieces. "We're pretty confident that we can make things happen in those situations."

St. David's jumped out to a two-goal lead in the opening 25 minutes with sophomore Owen Stone, the shortest player in the Warriors' starting lineup, heading home a corner from Farouk Bseiso 15 minutes into the game. Then, Hadley set a low, out-swinging shot from 20 yards under the Eagles' wall and by goalkeeper Hampton Moore 10 minutes later.

"We showed our confidence early, set the pace of the game early on with a lead," St. David's coach Jose Cornejo said. "It was catch-up for them [Fayetteville Academy] the rest of the way."

Fayetteville Academy finished with just three shots on goal to St David's 11.

Warriors keeper David Schwartz's best work came in the second half when he came off of his line to corral long volleys into the penalty area, thus preventing the Eagles from getting more shots on goal.

St David's effectiveness on defense meant that by the time Nick Hynson put in his two goals in the final 10 minutes of play, a second straight state title trophy was already earmarked for the Warriors' trophy case back in Raleigh.

Hynson drilled a long cross from Daniel Clampett for his team's third goal of the match with 7:33 to play, then he headed in a free kick off of the foot of Jake Mercer in the final 15 seconds.

"It just means we have good players," Cornejo said of winning two titles in a row. "It's a joy to be able to work with young men like these, who can play the game as well as they do."