Eagles post 6-0 win in soccer playoffs
By Monica Holland
The Fayetteville Observer USA TODAY NETWORK
In a five-minute span of the first half during Thursday’s second-round NCISAA 2-A playoff game, Fayetteville Academy scored four goals on the way to a 6-0 win over Thales Academy of Apex.
“The first 15-20 minutes were probably the best we’ve played all season,” Eagles coach Andrew McCarthy said. “We prepared well and I was hoping for a good start and we certainly got that.”
After shaking off some early playoff jitters, Fayetteville Academy settled in and began to attack. Anthony Sevilla was firing crosses into the box, Curran Haworth controlled the pace, Arinze Ejeh set up Sevilla with a nifty serve over the middle that wound up in the keeper’s mitts.
The Eagles broke through just over 15 minutes into action as Haworth converted a corner kick from Colin Martin to give Fayetteville Academy a 1-0 lead.
The goals came easily after that. At the 23-minute mark, Martin skimmed a low free kick into the back of the net and Hunter Herman headed in a rebound to put the Eagles up 3-0.
Sevilla, who had been antagonizing Thales’ defenders all game, got on the receiving end of a clear from Haworth, dribbled himself open and buried a goal to cap the five-minute outburst.
Scott Fincher and Bryant Birch added second- half goals. “We played beautifully out there,” said Herman, one of four seniors on the Eagles’ roster. “The passes, the tackling, the intensity — that’s really what’s going to get us to finals.”
Finals are a familiar place for Fayetteville Academy.
The Eagles have won 17 state championships over the last 35 years, their most recent coming on a repeat title in 2018.
Duncan Ferguson, a senior defender, believes this squad can add to the tally.
“We can win the ‘ship,” he said.
“I thought this was one of our best games. Everybody gave as much as they could on the field to show that we are coming for the championship.
“We need to stay humble but we do have confidence.”
The Eagles are 6-3 after Thursday’s victory, with all three losses coming to the top two seeds in the 3-A East.
Fayetteville carries its No. 1 2-A East seed into a quarterfinal matchup today at home against No. 4 Thales Academy of Rolesville (8-2), which defeated Freedom Christian 7-1 on Thursday.
“Luckily, everyone seems to be fit and fresh and we’re playing well at the right time,” McCarthy said.
“Normally, you’d have 18 or 19 games and we’ve only had nine. I think we’re as fresh as we’ve been.” Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver. com.
By Monica Holland
The Fayetteville Observer USA TODAY NETWORK
In a five-minute span of the first half during Thursday’s second-round NCISAA 2-A playoff game, Fayetteville Academy scored four goals on the way to a 6-0 win over Thales Academy of Apex.
“The first 15-20 minutes were probably the best we’ve played all season,” Eagles coach Andrew McCarthy said. “We prepared well and I was hoping for a good start and we certainly got that.”
After shaking off some early playoff jitters, Fayetteville Academy settled in and began to attack. Anthony Sevilla was firing crosses into the box, Curran Haworth controlled the pace, Arinze Ejeh set up Sevilla with a nifty serve over the middle that wound up in the keeper’s mitts.
The Eagles broke through just over 15 minutes into action as Haworth converted a corner kick from Colin Martin to give Fayetteville Academy a 1-0 lead.
The goals came easily after that. At the 23-minute mark, Martin skimmed a low free kick into the back of the net and Hunter Herman headed in a rebound to put the Eagles up 3-0.
Sevilla, who had been antagonizing Thales’ defenders all game, got on the receiving end of a clear from Haworth, dribbled himself open and buried a goal to cap the five-minute outburst.
Scott Fincher and Bryant Birch added second- half goals. “We played beautifully out there,” said Herman, one of four seniors on the Eagles’ roster. “The passes, the tackling, the intensity — that’s really what’s going to get us to finals.”
Finals are a familiar place for Fayetteville Academy.
The Eagles have won 17 state championships over the last 35 years, their most recent coming on a repeat title in 2018.
Duncan Ferguson, a senior defender, believes this squad can add to the tally.
“We can win the ‘ship,” he said.
“I thought this was one of our best games. Everybody gave as much as they could on the field to show that we are coming for the championship.
“We need to stay humble but we do have confidence.”
The Eagles are 6-3 after Thursday’s victory, with all three losses coming to the top two seeds in the 3-A East.
Fayetteville carries its No. 1 2-A East seed into a quarterfinal matchup today at home against No. 4 Thales Academy of Rolesville (8-2), which defeated Freedom Christian 7-1 on Thursday.
“Luckily, everyone seems to be fit and fresh and we’re playing well at the right time,” McCarthy said.
“Normally, you’d have 18 or 19 games and we’ve only had nine. I think we’re as fresh as we’ve been.” Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver. com.
