The moments were loud.

The action never stopped.

The belief never wavered.

But when the dust settled, New Hanover boys soccer players lay scattered across the turf at Legion Stadium, their heads buried in their hands as tears forced their way out.

Frustration. Heartbreak. Sorrow.

Those were the emotions rushing through the Wildcats as the final overtime buzzer signaled a 3-1 loss to visiting Chapel Hill in the NCHSAA 7A East regional championship on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Coach William Page felt all of it, but something more.

"We've grown so much in a calendar year," an emotional Page said. "I'm so proud of them. The growth over one year is really tremendous."

New Hanover struck first. In the 17th minute, senior Deyson Castillo bent a free kick off the hands of the Tigers' goalkeeper

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