The First Flight men’s soccer team left Kill Devil Hills on Friday morning with an enthusiastic send off by the student body, on their way to Raleigh for the second straight season in search of their first state championship.

But this time they plan to return to the Outer Banks with the championship banner and trophy, after suffering their only loss of the 2013 season by a 2-1 score to Salisbury in the finals.

The Nighthawks (24-0-1) executed on all facets of the game in their 4-0 win over Carrboro on Tuesday to wrap up back-to-back 2A East Region titles.

But the defense was the backbone of the Nighthawks as they smothered the Carrboro attack with a solid, physical game and were zoned-in and mentally focused.

“The most positive thing we did offensively and defensively was going into the game with a winning mindset,” said coach Juan Ramirez.

“On offense we were on attack from the get go, and defensively we were ahead of every play. Our boys took the challenge to win and succeeded,” Ramirez said.

In the early rounds, First Flight easily outscored Roanoke Rapids and Dixon by a combined total of seven goals.

The Nighthawks received a wake-up call in the third round against an underrated East Duplin team, winning in overtime 2-1.

They stepped up to the challenge in the regional semifinals and finals, outscoring No. 4 seed Washington and No. 2 seed Carrboro by a combined 7-1.

Now, First Flight sets its sights on Newton-Conover in an 8:05 p.m. kickoff Saturday at N.C. State University’s Dail Soccer Field.

The Nighthawks are ranked second in the state and are currently on an 18-game win streak, while Newton-Conover enters the contest at 25-1.

The Red Devils are riding a 23-game winning streak and are ranked 17th in the state, and won the West Region final 1-0 against Franklin in dramatic fashion, scoring a goal off of a header with 13.6 seconds left to play.

First Flight’s success lies in the team’s unified defense. The Nighthawks combination of speed and depth create mismatches across the field, and leaving opponents with a disadvantage when many scoring opportunities are negated.

“Our speed is a huge edge for us because we are able to keep up with most teams’ fastest players,” sophomore midfielder Tommy Scott said.

“Our depth is also important because most of the team can play multiple positions allowing for other members of the team to rest,” Scott said.

First Flight has not allowed any opponent to score more than two goals in a game all season, and only allowed three goals this postseason including two on penalty kicks.

The players have built defensive chemistry through extended playing time outside of the high school team. All First Flight players are on travel teams, and some participate in the Olympic Development Program.

First Flight is now on the cusp of their final goal: a state championship. Junior Graham Smalley has a strong mindset coming into the game to capitalize on this opportunity.

“Confident. I am confident in my team and preparation,” Smalley said. “Going into a second chance at a lifetime dream is eye opening.”

“I want our players to be high-spirited, well rested, and to play with poise Saturday,” Ramirez said.

A pregame tailgate party will be held in the parking lot behind Charmichael Gymnasium off Morrill Drive on the N.C. State campus. Click here for more details.

Admission to the match is $9.00, and is good for all four championship games on Saturday. Those who can’t make the trip can watch the matches on-line at TWCSportsChannel.com.