The Grace Rams faced the Webb-Bell Buckle Feet in the TSSAA Division II-A state championship game at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Grace won 3-0. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO – It was time for the Grace Christian Academy family to celebrate Thursday night.
And the celebration spanned to other countries.
The Rams won the Division II-A state soccer championship by beating Webb School of Bell Buckle 3-0 at the Richard Siegel Soccer Stadium.
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Grace senior Pedro Ungarello had a goal and an assist Thursday night and was MVP of the championship.
Ungarello is one of eight Brazilians on the Grace Christian Academy soccer team, which also has two players from Thailand in its international program started this school year.
“The United States changed my life, especially Grace Christian Academy,” Ungarello said. “The school changed my vision of the world and how God helps us and helps me to become a better person.”
Grace Christian Academy (17-1) was making its first appearance at the state Final Four. All three of its goals Thursday night were scored by Brazilians.
Ungarello understands the importance of winning a state championship.
“I know how big it is, and this is the best sensation of my life,” said Ungarello, who will play soccer for Johnson University this coming school year.
His teammates, coaches, and fans shared the feeling.
“It’s just very special,” senior goalkeeper Lucas Sampson said. “We had a good group of guys last year and lost a lot of them, but we rebuilt and we all came together for one common goal. I’m just proud of us. It’s the first time in the history of Grace soccer that we’ve done this, so I’m proud to be a part of a team like this.”
The Rams rebuilt with the influx of Brazilians. Their only loss this season was to Chattanooga Christian by a 4-2 score on March 6, the second game of the season.
“We made state quarters last year with the guys we had, and we started an international program and brought a few Brazilian guys in,” GCA coach Isaac Brooks said. “We had a really tough defense like you’re seeing now, and they just added that little bit of spice to what we already had, and this is just the icing on the cake. It’s a phenomenal program right now.”
Webb of Bell Buckle (12-3-1) was making its fourth trip to state and finished runner-up for the third time.
The Feet had an imposing starting goalkeeper in 6-foot-5 Max Williams-Angmor, a junior from Angola. He’s in his second year at Bell Buckle and plays only soccer, not basketball.
“He’s too tall,” Ungarello said, “but I knew if we shoot on the ground, we should be able to score a goal.”
They scored the first goal in the 10th minute.
Vitor Robazza got a pass from Ungarello just outside the 6-yard goalie box and knocked the shot past Williams-Angmor.
It was the only goal of the first half.
GCA had nine shots in the first half and Webb of Bell Buckle had five.
“Coach has always told us to be relentless, and I think that’s what we’ve done as a team,” Sampson said. “We just worked at it all year since December. We’ve got a good group of guys. I was very confident. I think we all were because we knew that if we play the way we want to play, then no one can handle us.”
The Rams made it 2-0 in the 57th minute.
Ungarello drilled a direct kick from 20 yards and into the back of the net — apparently through the outstretched hands of Williams-Angmor.
GCA scored again 2 minutes later when a Webb of Bell Buckle defender tried to play the ball back to Williams-Angmor, who couldn’t settle the ball.
Felipe Evans was there to tap the ball into the open goal for the 3-0 lead.
As the clock would down, the Rams prepared to celebrate.
They finished with 18 shots to Webb of Bell Buckle’s nine shots.
Sampson had three saves (the team had one save), while Williams-Angmor had six saves.
“It’s one of those things where in the moment, holy moly, what a blessing,” Brooks said, “but the guys deserve all the credit. I just got to be here for the ride. God blessed us. The guys worked hard. It was a phenomenal season. They deserve it.”
The Rams won it as a family of one, which included the Brazilians.
“They fit in really well,” Sampson said. “At first, I think a lot of us were skeptical about would they fit in, or would they hog the ball or anything like that, but they really fit in well.
“It’s like a family now.”