If soccer is indeed the world’s game, it would be difficult to find a better representative than the St. Paul Como Park boys soccer team.

The Cougars, a proudly diverse mix of home-grown boys and immigrants from Africa and Southeast Asia, won the first team championship in school history, defeating Hill-Murray 2-1 in the Class 1A championship game Thursday at the Metrodome.

“I am so happy right now,” said junior forward Abdikarin Diriye, who immigrated from Somalia in 2009. “We are all one big family.”

The top-seeded Cougars were the aggressors from the outset, turning the tables on a Hill-Murray team that is accustomed to attacking early.

But despite frequent pressure, the game was scoreless until midway through the second half. Hill-Murray goalie Joe Schaefer stopped a point-blank shot in front, but the ball rolled out to Como Park defender Thor Will, who drilled a 30-yarder for 1-0 lead in the 66th minute.

“I’m used to taking free kicks, so that’s in my range,” Will said. “I was looking for my shot and I took it.

Seik Seik, a Burmese native who immigrated from Thailand three years ago, added a rebound goal in the 74th minute, appearing to seal the victory. But Hill-Murray’s Jack Blaney cut the deficit to 2-1 less than two minutes later on a fine individual effort in front of the net.

Despite giving up a late goal, Diriye, who had three shots in the game, said he was never worried.

“That’s soccer,” he said. “I knew we would win. We just had to keep pushing forward.”