A decade ago, longtime Chapel Hill women’s soccer head coach Ron Benson announced that it was going to be his final season coaching the Tigers.
A last hurrah for Benson, the 2014 season presented an opportunity the Tigers knew they had to make the most of—especially since Benson had never won a state championship before.
It was now or never.
The team came through, trouncing every single opponent the Tigers had.
The team went a whopping 23-1, averaged over five goals a game, and came out with a state championship after a 2-1 win over Weddington High School.
Megan Dell, a senior at the time, scored the game-winning goal in the final, held on May 31 in Raleigh.
“It’s hard not to say the state championship,” Dell said when asked what her favorite moment was under Benson.
Benson’s players say he was more than just a coach: he was an inspiration, advocate and motivator to so many athletes.
“He was such a staple for the team; his presence was just always the best. It was the most uplifting thing ever,” Lianna Malawski, a junior at the time, said regarding Benson.
Benson always made soccer something fun to play, and, in a time of extreme competitiveness, he made the enjoyment of the game his priority.
Fast forward a decade: the 2024 season marks ten years since the championship win, presenting an opportunity to honor Benson and motivate this year’s Tigers to make a similar run in the playoffs.
It was April 19, and the Tigers were playing the Heritage Huskies. The team planned to honor Benson at halftime.
The Tigers made Benson extremely proud, scoring three goals in the first half, when Benson was honored.
After 40 minutes of play, Benson was greeted by current and former players, as well as coaches.
The Tigers took care of business as the final score ended up being 4-1. The Tigers’ record now stands at 15 wins, one tie and one loss as the team looks to bring another state championship back to Ron Benson field.
Current players, who did not have the chance to play under Benson, are still very fond of him.
“You can always count on him showing up to every game with his chair and Snickers to give out after the game; his support is unmeasurable,” sophomore forward Paloma Bradley said.
Current head coach Jason Curtis, an assistant under Benson, reflected on Benson’s unique way of motivating players.
“He had a way of instilling confidence in his teams and coaching staff that made us believe we could make great things happen, even if we had self-doubt and the odds may not have been in our favor,” Curtis said.
Benson had been in the coaching business around Chapel Hill for 42 years, starting with the local middle school Culbreth and then working his way up to the high school level.
His influence has never faded. He helped to found Rainbow Soccer, a recreational soccer league in Chapel Hill that still stands today; the school’s soccer field was named in his honor in 2021; and the women’s 2014 state title is still on display in the school’s trophy case.
This year’s women’s soccer team hopes to honor Benson’s legacy and bring home a state title of their own later in the coming weeks. One thing’s for sure: Benson will be there rooting on the Tigers.
