Five goals later and the Diablos bring an NPSL championship trophy to north Texas, holding their opponents, Tulsa Athletic, to only two. The seven-goal final could have been mistaken as a strikers’ clinic, and the player running it would have been no other than the Diablos star, Trevor Amann.

Amann was able to register his 26th and 27th goal of the season with the third and fifth goal of the game, earning him his fourth brace of the playoffs. The striker’s ability to out-muscle and out-pace the defenders on the break earned him his first goal of the game, as a give away in the middle of the field by a Tulsa center back left a gaping hole for him to receive the ball, turn, and shoot, breaking the momentary tie of the game.

His second goal was a consolation, but an ice-cold finish nonetheless. A misplaced ball played through the middle was intercepted by Diablo’s center back and captain, Eoin Wearen, and played first time to the feet of Amann with a degree of class to match the finish. Amann, alone and in on goal, was able to send the keeper the wrong way, and slot it goalward as the final and conclusive statement of the game.

Despite the three-goal difference between the two sides, the Diablos defense was vital to the team’s success, and leading that defense was Eoin Wearen. The Irishman had a dominating presence in the Diablos defense third, preventing the Tulsa strikers from ever turning towards goal with the ball in the middle of the park, and minimizing Tulsa’s attacking threats to the wings. In addition to his assist, Wearen also scored the Diablos’ second goal of the game off a corner. A perfectly timed run from the penalty spot towards the front post put Wearen in the perfect position to leap for the ball, and nearly take the net off the goal with a header placed in the top ninety.

The West region champions were able to add to their historic club season with another addition to their trophy case. A piece of silverware that is even more important than the one they won back in July. Their win was well deserved, but above that, they were also able to put on a show for the pack stands of their home stadium of Denton High School.

Denton Diablos co-owner Damon Gochneaur celebrates with his daughter. Photo credit: Daniel McCullough

The atmosphere was shaking, with flares, drums, and flags that I imagine only fueled the adrenaline of the Diablos players as fatigue started to kick in. The man at the helm of those supporters was an unlikely individual though, as club co-owner Damon Gochneaur chose his seat among the fans rather than with the coaching staff. A seat that was most likely vacant for the entire game, though, as Damon spent the whole game running up and down the sideline, waving his Diablos flag and leading the crowd into chants to urge his team on. A role he took upon himself, but surely one that granted the Diablos a twelfth man.

- Jack Cisneros