Westchester Country Day stuns Fayetteville Academy on last-second goal
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
HIGH POINT, N.C. — A goal with 9.9 seconds left broke a tie and lifted Westchester Country Day to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A boys soccer state championship on Saturday afternoon.
The game was tied at 2-2 when George Culp scored the game-winning goal with just seconds left. Culp is the all-time leader scorer for Westchester Country Day and the only player in school history to score over 100 goals in his career.
"I don't think it's really hit me yet," said Westchester Country Day School head boys soccer coach Adam Schwartz following his team's win. "Just so many different thoughts going through my head. It was an unbelievable last five minutes. I just love the fight that we had; never quit when they (Fayetteville Academy) came back 2-2. I think is more than a win today. This really was a program win. We have so many alums that are here, so many alums that are watching, (and) so many people that tried so hard to beat Fayetteville Academy -- 17 state championships, you know? I've been here 21 years and we've never beaten them until today."
Freshman Ben Van Dessel scored the first goal of the game for Westchester Country Day. He scored on a right-footed shot on a tough angle after beating a couple Fayetteville Academy defenders down the sideline. The goal, which happened in the 24th minute, gave Westchester Country Day a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats would carry their 1-0 edge into the halftime break from Westchester's Kennedy Field.
Early in the second half, Fayetteville Academy got on the board when junior Anthony Sevilla took his defender one-on-one and scored. Just like that, it was 1-1 just three minutes into the final 40.
Westchester Country Day took the lead back in the 64th minute though. On a corner kick from Hamer Brigman, a few redirections turned into a Fayetteville Academy own goal, putting Westchester up 2-1.
That score held for much of the second half, but things got wild in the final minutes.
Fayetteville Academy, applying pressure, had a few near misses, which included some big saves by Westchester Country Day goalkeeper Cook Smith. But in the 76th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Fayetteville Academy and junior Colin Martin scored with 4:23 left in the match.
It appeared the two teams were headed for overtime until Culp scored the game-winner with just 9.9 seconds left.
Westchester Country Day ends the season with a 13-2 record after beating Fayetteville Academy, who ends its season with an 8-4 record. The Wildcats found themselves No. 6 in the HighSchoolOT boys soccer Top 25 rankings prior to the state playoffs. Despite having three losses in the regular season, the Eagles soared to the No. 9 spot going into the NCISAA postseason.
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
HIGH POINT, N.C. — A goal with 9.9 seconds left broke a tie and lifted Westchester Country Day to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A boys soccer state championship on Saturday afternoon.
The game was tied at 2-2 when George Culp scored the game-winning goal with just seconds left. Culp is the all-time leader scorer for Westchester Country Day and the only player in school history to score over 100 goals in his career.
"I don't think it's really hit me yet," said Westchester Country Day School head boys soccer coach Adam Schwartz following his team's win. "Just so many different thoughts going through my head. It was an unbelievable last five minutes. I just love the fight that we had; never quit when they (Fayetteville Academy) came back 2-2. I think is more than a win today. This really was a program win. We have so many alums that are here, so many alums that are watching, (and) so many people that tried so hard to beat Fayetteville Academy -- 17 state championships, you know? I've been here 21 years and we've never beaten them until today."
Freshman Ben Van Dessel scored the first goal of the game for Westchester Country Day. He scored on a right-footed shot on a tough angle after beating a couple Fayetteville Academy defenders down the sideline. The goal, which happened in the 24th minute, gave Westchester Country Day a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats would carry their 1-0 edge into the halftime break from Westchester's Kennedy Field.
Early in the second half, Fayetteville Academy got on the board when junior Anthony Sevilla took his defender one-on-one and scored. Just like that, it was 1-1 just three minutes into the final 40.
Westchester Country Day took the lead back in the 64th minute though. On a corner kick from Hamer Brigman, a few redirections turned into a Fayetteville Academy own goal, putting Westchester up 2-1.
That score held for much of the second half, but things got wild in the final minutes.
Fayetteville Academy, applying pressure, had a few near misses, which included some big saves by Westchester Country Day goalkeeper Cook Smith. But in the 76th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Fayetteville Academy and junior Colin Martin scored with 4:23 left in the match.
It appeared the two teams were headed for overtime until Culp scored the game-winner with just 9.9 seconds left.
Westchester Country Day ends the season with a 13-2 record after beating Fayetteville Academy, who ends its season with an 8-4 record. The Wildcats found themselves No. 6 in the HighSchoolOT boys soccer Top 25 rankings prior to the state playoffs. Despite having three losses in the regular season, the Eagles soared to the No. 9 spot going into the NCISAA postseason.
