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Cole Grimaldi and Dylan Lopez headlined a top-down clinic for Morristown West on their way to a District 2-3A Championship.

The Trojans defeated Morristown East in the District 2-3A championship game in deciding fashion. Play of District Co-Player of the Year Dylan Lopez, along with 1st Team All-District Grimaldi on the wings helped them strike first and maintain control of the game until the final whistle, resulting in a 4-0 win for West. The team’s constant, relentless work rate was a point of emphasis coming into the game and out of the half for coach Jonathan Hanna.

“We just talked about work rate. In all areas, from defense, to midfield, to the forwards,” Hanna said following the win. “And then when we got the ball in the transitions, to apply what we had been putting into training all year for the quick attacks. Then we got the quick goal at the start which helped us settle the nerves.”

That quick goal happened in just the third minute, a header to the far-post from Grimaldi off a beautiful ball in from Lopez on the right wing. In the 15th minute, the ‘Canes started to gain momentum with Alfredo Hernandez and Melvin Pavon being brought into the game; Pavon creating a near chance for himself in the 18th and off his cross in the 22nd. Momentum swung to and stayed on the side of the Trojans after Alexis Morales scored a penalty in the 24th minute and Miguel Martinez put one in the net in the 28th. The score remained 3-0 at half.

Grimaldi scored the game’s fourth and final goal quickly out of the half in the 50th minute, his second. This goal put a stamp on a game in which his and Lopez’s electric footwork and constant pursuit of the goal kept East defenders on their heels all night.

It wasn’t just their offense that solidified their victory in this Championship game against their crosstown rival. The Trojans put on a clinical performance on Thursday. Luke Biery in the midfield and Braden Melling on the back line were integral in ensuring this performance was top-down and front to back, unlike the last time the two teams met when West needed extra time to take down the ‘Canes in their regular season matchup despite an early 2-0 lead.

“That’s the spine of your team. That’s what you build your team around. We have Braden who has been absolutely immense. We’ve had great leadership from Lucas,” Hanna said when asked about the importance of having Senior leadership at all three levels. “I was just talking to Lucas yesterday in training about it. Absolutely spot on at every single game and every single practice, he hasn’t let up. He doesn’t really get the headlines, because of the likes of Dylan and the likes of Cole scoring all the goals, but he put in the hard yards, and then Braden behind him as well. They really put in the work. I’m really happy to see those boys on the winning side.”

Despite the final score, the ‘Canes shouldn’t be hanging their heads. They entered the tournament as a four seed and managed to punch their ticket to the Region 1-3A tournament. They travel to Kingsport for their first round matchup at Dobyns-Bennett on Tuesday. The Trojans will host Science Hill, who lost their matchup with Dobyns-Bennett on Thursday.