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Clapping their hands above their heads, a battalion of white, yellow and black crossed Washington College's field Friday evening to the wall of applause.

South Carroll High's boys' soccer team had just dropped its Class 1A state semifinal against the Eastern Shore's Pocomoke 1-0. Yet there was little disappointment on the faces of the fans that made the nearly two-hour trip from Carroll County, only gratification for the season that was.

"One hundred and fifty percent it's been a successful season," South Carroll head coach Tim Novotny said.

Novotny, a South Carroll alumnus, won't soon forget his first year at the Cavaliers' helm. He was instrumental in resurrecting a program which logged only three wins in 2007, had not won or shared a league title since 1994 or been to states since 1988. Finishing at11-4-1, South Carroll shared the Monocacy Valley Atheltic League Blue Ridge conference crown with Liberty and won the 1A South Region. Friday was the Cavs' first loss to either a 1A or 2A outfit.

"We really worked together as a team this year," midfielder Philip Barna said.

While their chances were many, the Cavs could not find the back of the net. Barna sent a shot just past the upper right corner of the goal early in the game. Pocomoke was awarded a penalty kick with 10:53 remaining in the first half, but Sam Byrd's attempt rolled wide left.

Taking the opening kick after intermission, Misha Armacost broke through the Warriors defense, but managed only a marginal shot on goal. The Cavaliers would have no less than five promising scoring oppourtunities in the second half but eventually came up empty. South Carroll rattled off 15 shots and five corners. Goalkeeper Taylor Kingston collected six saves.

"Every time we'd send a ball into the box, not only the strikers, but midfielders couldn't put the ball in," Barna said. "We did the best we could."

Pocomoke, the three-time defending state champions, broke the stalemate when Jacob Yaeger delivered a textbook cross to Jordan Becker, who buried the ball from five yards inside the box. The Warriors would pile into the box for the remainder of the match, making sure to mark Armacost and frontline mate Andrew Kestler.

Sophomores Kestler and Armacost finished the season as the Cavs' top two scorers with 40 points (17 goals, six assists) and 28 points (12 goals, four assists) respectively. The experience they, and their other returning teammates, gained during South Carroll's postseason run will prove invaluable in the upcoming season, as South Carroll moves up to 2A next fall.

"We do move up to 2A next year, but I'm not really that worried about it," Novotny said. "We've got some good soccer players on this team."