By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

HUNTSVILLE— The trip to the 2014 AHSAA Class 6A state soccer finals took on a painfully familiar tone for the Oak Mountain Eagles boys soccer team.

The Eagles took on Vestavia Hills in the finals for the second-straight season, and for the second-straight season the Eagles fell in heartbreaking fashion, dropping the contest 2-0. The two squads played strong defense to open the match, with neither offense able to establish much presence in the first half.

The Eagles watched a free kick sail over the goal with 22:21 left in the half, and a huge save by keeper Brad Louis with 14:29 left kept the Rebels off the board.

With 3:45 remaining in the half, an Eagle and Rebel got tangled up near the Oak Mountain goal, leading to Vestavia Hills being given a penalty kick.

Despite protests from the Eagles’ sideline and fans in attendance, the ruling was upheld and the Rebels netted a shot to go up, 1-0.

Neither team scored again, and the two squads went into half with the Rebels up, 1-0.

A change in goal brought Thornton Henry to mind the net for the Eagles in the second half, and Henry came up with early in the second half.

The game again became a defensive struggle, with both teams continuing to have problems establishing offense.

The Rebels were able to convert a free kick for a goal with 17:55 to go up 2-0.

The Eagles fought valiantly, but were unable to convert any shots for goals in the game, falling 2-0.

Despite the loss, Oak Mountain head coach Dan DeMasters said he was more than proud of his team’s effort.

“Vestavia is a very good team, and we knew that coming in,” he said. “(They’re) a hard team to pick a part. I’m proud of our guys.”