Briarwood Christian School boys’ soccer coach Mark Wallace already had enough concerns as his Lions prepared for a difficult test against John Carroll Catholic in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A championship game May 8 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature also made an impact during the contest.

A gusty wind helped keep the Lions in check in a 1-0 loss to the Cavs in the title match.

“The wind won today,” Wallace said. “Two good teams just struggled. We had to face it one half and they had to face it one half. There are no excuses.”

John Carroll scored a goal early in the second half and managed to keep Briarwood scoring chances at a minimum the rest of the way.

The loss was the Lions’ third in four meetings with the Cavs in the Class 5A championship game.

John Carroll’s Clay Green scored the game-winner on a free kick less than 10 minutes into the second half.

“All it takes is one mistake,” Wallace said. “It was one of the only times they got behind us and they made us pay for it.”

Briarwood goalkeeper Jordan Box recorded two saves. The Lions finished the 2010 season with a 14-6-2 record.