Crossroads extends win streak to 10 against KVA
• By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840
HENDERSON -- The Crossroads Christian men’s soccer team lost 4-3 to Neuse Christian Academy back on Aug. 26, dropping their record to 0-4 at the time.
They have not experienced a defeat since that day.
Crossroads extended their win streak to ten games on Thursday afternoon against Kerr-Vance Academy after a strong second half enabled them to win 5-0.
Head coach Holden Coghill has methodically created a winning culture within Crossroads’ soccer program since arriving in 2019 and said the ten consecutive victories are indicative of the hard work everyone has put in towards accomplishing that goal.
“This is a landmark victory,” Coghill said. “I don’t think any sport in our school’s history has had a ten-game win streak before whether it’s varsity or middle school. This team is setting records just about every day now and I was excited to break another one [on Thursday].”
Coghill had high expectations for the men’s soccer team entering 2021 but anticipated some growing pains following the departure of key contributors like Noah Puckett and Asher Fulk over the offseason.
The absence of 2020’s stout senior class was prevalent during Crossroads’ first four games but Coghill said his current roster gradually adjusted to their new roles on and off the field to transform Crossroads into a consistent program.
Senior Nicholas Shah earned praise from Coghill for his ability to create scoring opportunities for players like senior Ryan Adcock and sophomore Will Alston. The trio scored four of Crossroads’ five goals on Thursday, with freshman Thomas Shah tallying the other one.
Most of that scoring production for Crossroads occurred in the second half, as KVA’s defense kept Crossroads in check on offense while senior goalkeeper Shane Musselman stopped nearly every shot that came his way.
Once the game progressed into the second half, KVA was unable to keep up with Crossroads offensively and defensively, which head coach Hector Galdamez attributed to his team’s inexperience and overall lack of depth.
“We just ran out of energy,” Galdamez said. “We’re coming off back-to-back games and we only have 11 guys on the team. It’s tough to hang in there when your opponent has so many more players. The guys fought strong and I’m definitely proud of them.”
With KVA being Crossroads’ penultimate non-conference game of the 2021 season, Coghill feels confident with where his team stands as they prepare to finish out the year with a schedule that includes two games against Grace Christian.
Coghill sees Grace Christian as a team capable of winning the NCISAA 1A Championship and wants his players to clean up some of the little mistakes if they wish to defeat Grace Christian and stay undefeated inside the Mid-Carolina Conference.
“I want to see us improve on some of the things we can control like talking,” Coghill said. “Our fundamentals have really improved and now the guys have to remember that we need to speak more since we have more possession. We’ve come a long way from having to make something out of nothing so encouraging more communication is definitely a great conversation to have.”
Crossroads faced off against Grace Christian for the first time at home on Friday. They will face Grace Christian again next week following another home matchup with Berean Baptist Academy on Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
• By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840
HENDERSON -- The Crossroads Christian men’s soccer team lost 4-3 to Neuse Christian Academy back on Aug. 26, dropping their record to 0-4 at the time.
They have not experienced a defeat since that day.
Crossroads extended their win streak to ten games on Thursday afternoon against Kerr-Vance Academy after a strong second half enabled them to win 5-0.
Head coach Holden Coghill has methodically created a winning culture within Crossroads’ soccer program since arriving in 2019 and said the ten consecutive victories are indicative of the hard work everyone has put in towards accomplishing that goal.
“This is a landmark victory,” Coghill said. “I don’t think any sport in our school’s history has had a ten-game win streak before whether it’s varsity or middle school. This team is setting records just about every day now and I was excited to break another one [on Thursday].”
Coghill had high expectations for the men’s soccer team entering 2021 but anticipated some growing pains following the departure of key contributors like Noah Puckett and Asher Fulk over the offseason.
The absence of 2020’s stout senior class was prevalent during Crossroads’ first four games but Coghill said his current roster gradually adjusted to their new roles on and off the field to transform Crossroads into a consistent program.
Senior Nicholas Shah earned praise from Coghill for his ability to create scoring opportunities for players like senior Ryan Adcock and sophomore Will Alston. The trio scored four of Crossroads’ five goals on Thursday, with freshman Thomas Shah tallying the other one.
Most of that scoring production for Crossroads occurred in the second half, as KVA’s defense kept Crossroads in check on offense while senior goalkeeper Shane Musselman stopped nearly every shot that came his way.
Once the game progressed into the second half, KVA was unable to keep up with Crossroads offensively and defensively, which head coach Hector Galdamez attributed to his team’s inexperience and overall lack of depth.
“We just ran out of energy,” Galdamez said. “We’re coming off back-to-back games and we only have 11 guys on the team. It’s tough to hang in there when your opponent has so many more players. The guys fought strong and I’m definitely proud of them.”
With KVA being Crossroads’ penultimate non-conference game of the 2021 season, Coghill feels confident with where his team stands as they prepare to finish out the year with a schedule that includes two games against Grace Christian.
Coghill sees Grace Christian as a team capable of winning the NCISAA 1A Championship and wants his players to clean up some of the little mistakes if they wish to defeat Grace Christian and stay undefeated inside the Mid-Carolina Conference.
“I want to see us improve on some of the things we can control like talking,” Coghill said. “Our fundamentals have really improved and now the guys have to remember that we need to speak more since we have more possession. We’ve come a long way from having to make something out of nothing so encouraging more communication is definitely a great conversation to have.”
Crossroads faced off against Grace Christian for the first time at home on Friday. They will face Grace Christian again next week following another home matchup with Berean Baptist Academy on Thursday at 4:30 p.m..
