Fayetteville Academy closing in on 16th state soccer title this weekend
By Earl Vaughan Jr. Scholastic sports editor FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Fayetteville Academy joins the other top three seeds in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A soccer tournament on Friday in High Point, seeking its 16th state boys' soccer title. It would be the team's fourth in the last five seasons.
The top-seeded Eagles, 20-0, will face fourth-seeded Caldwell Academy, 17-4, in the first semifinal at 3 p.m.
No. 2 and host team Westchester Academy, 18-3-1, plays No. 3 Asheville Christian, 14-3-2, at 5 p.m. The winners advance to Saturday's championship match at Westchester at 1 p.m.
The Eagles and head coach Andrew McCarthy enter the semifinals following a lopsided 8-3 verdict over No. 9 tournament seed Cary Christian in Tuesday's quarterfinals. Justin Bellamy had five goals for Fayetteville Academy in the win.
The Academy is 44-1 in its last 45 matches, going unbeaten in the regular season two years in a row. But the one loss was to St. David's a year ago in the NCISAA semifinals, robbing the team of a shot at a fourth consecutive state title.
McCarthy said the Eagles have put that memory behind and are focused on a Caldwell team they have history with. They met in Fayetteville Academy's season opener this year, the Eagles winning 9-1.
"The team is much improved as the season has gone on,'' McCarthy said of Caldwell. "They've got a good forward line, scoring plenty of goals.''
Caldwell is 15-1 in its last 16 games, suffering only a 1-0 loss to fellow semifinalist Westchester.
McCarthy said the Eagles will hold a final practice at home Thursday, then travel to High Point Friday for the 3 p.m. game.
"The boys are fired up and healthy,'' McCarthy said. "We're ready for the challenges ahead.''
By Earl Vaughan Jr. Scholastic sports editor FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Fayetteville Academy joins the other top three seeds in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A soccer tournament on Friday in High Point, seeking its 16th state boys' soccer title. It would be the team's fourth in the last five seasons.
The top-seeded Eagles, 20-0, will face fourth-seeded Caldwell Academy, 17-4, in the first semifinal at 3 p.m.
No. 2 and host team Westchester Academy, 18-3-1, plays No. 3 Asheville Christian, 14-3-2, at 5 p.m. The winners advance to Saturday's championship match at Westchester at 1 p.m.
The Eagles and head coach Andrew McCarthy enter the semifinals following a lopsided 8-3 verdict over No. 9 tournament seed Cary Christian in Tuesday's quarterfinals. Justin Bellamy had five goals for Fayetteville Academy in the win.
The Academy is 44-1 in its last 45 matches, going unbeaten in the regular season two years in a row. But the one loss was to St. David's a year ago in the NCISAA semifinals, robbing the team of a shot at a fourth consecutive state title.
McCarthy said the Eagles have put that memory behind and are focused on a Caldwell team they have history with. They met in Fayetteville Academy's season opener this year, the Eagles winning 9-1.
"The team is much improved as the season has gone on,'' McCarthy said of Caldwell. "They've got a good forward line, scoring plenty of goals.''
Caldwell is 15-1 in its last 16 games, suffering only a 1-0 loss to fellow semifinalist Westchester.
McCarthy said the Eagles will hold a final practice at home Thursday, then travel to High Point Friday for the 3 p.m. game.
"The boys are fired up and healthy,'' McCarthy said. "We're ready for the challenges ahead.''
