Shots were limited in the Class 5A boys’ soccer championship Saturday, but John Carroll pushed two past Briarwood keeper Wilson Whoton to repeat as state champs, 2-0.

Reed Matte scored an unassisted goal 12:05 into the game and added an assist to Alexander Kuklinski 44 seconds later. Briarwood had no shots in the game.

“It’s important in a state final to get the first goal. I don’t know the statistics on that, but it’s got to be big,” Briarwood co-head coach Mark Wallace said. “We’ve been a great comeback team this year, but they wouldn’t let us come back.”

Redd Matte and Justin Matte had the only other two shots on goal, which were stopped by Whorton.

“After those two goals, there weren’t many opportunities out there. It was a midfield game,” Wallace said.

John Carroll had 10 total shots to Briarwood’s none and only one shot on goal in the second half.

“Clearly I think they’re a much better team than we are player-for-player,” Briarwood co-head coach Andrew Brower. “I think we did some simple things and gave up some silly mistakes that gave up their goals.”