Cox, Wesleyan boot Rabun Gap
Oct 23
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian waited until the very last minute, but it finally earned its fifth straight trip to the state championship.
Nathan Cox scored with 16 seconds left to give the top-seeded Trojans a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Rabun Gap-Nacoochee on Tuesday at Sanford Field in the semifinals of the NCISAA 4A state tournament.
“We won at home and we get to head into another final,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I just couldn’t be more proud of this particular group. I think, in terms of where they started at the beginning of the year to where they are now, they’ve improved more than any team that I’ve coached – which says a lot about who they are.”
Cox finished with a goal and an assist while Konner Robbins also had a goal to lead the Trojans (16-2), the reigning 3A state champions who have reached the state finals eight of the last nine years.
After the teams were tied 1-1 through halftime, the Trojans ramped up the pressure in the second half. They created a number of opportunities near the goal but couldn’t quite find the net.
The teams appeared headed for overtime until Wesleyan pushed forward once more in the final seconds. Robbins controlled the ball down the left side and sent a centering pass in near the goal.
The ball redirected out near the left side of the box to Cox, who fired a hard shot into the upper-left corner to give the Trojans, who had trailed midway through the first half, the lead with just seconds remaining.
“I saw it and I just told myself that I was going to smash it,” Cox said. “So, I just hit it and it ended up going in the top corner through the keeper. I was so excited. When I score, the team scores – we all celebrate together.
“We just need to work hard, come together and get the dub,” he said, looking ahead to the championship.
The Eagles (15-3) took the lead in the 20th minute when they moved the ball well in front and netted a shot inside the left post. But Wesleyan answered in the 33rd minute when, following an opportunity that barely missed, Cox controlled a poor goal kick along the side and dished to Robbins in front.
The Trojans narrowly missed taking the lead in the 36th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box. The shot was saved and the teams remained tied into halftime. But Wesleyan kept up the pressure – outshooting the Eagles 11-6 in the second half and 33-12 for the match.
David Le finished with seven saves for the Trojans, ranked No. 2 in the state – public or private – by MaxPreps and No. 27 nationally. They will take on second-seeded Ravenscroft (18-1), which is ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 11 nationally, on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sanford Field.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to play the last game our seniors will play at home,” Reitnour said. “The thing we’re most excited about as a group is that we get Wednesday together, Thursday together, Friday together and Saturday together. If we don’t score and we lose, then we don’t get this last bit of time together. But we have more time together,” he said with a smile.
Oct 23
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian waited until the very last minute, but it finally earned its fifth straight trip to the state championship.
Nathan Cox scored with 16 seconds left to give the top-seeded Trojans a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Rabun Gap-Nacoochee on Tuesday at Sanford Field in the semifinals of the NCISAA 4A state tournament.
“We won at home and we get to head into another final,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I just couldn’t be more proud of this particular group. I think, in terms of where they started at the beginning of the year to where they are now, they’ve improved more than any team that I’ve coached – which says a lot about who they are.”
Cox finished with a goal and an assist while Konner Robbins also had a goal to lead the Trojans (16-2), the reigning 3A state champions who have reached the state finals eight of the last nine years.
After the teams were tied 1-1 through halftime, the Trojans ramped up the pressure in the second half. They created a number of opportunities near the goal but couldn’t quite find the net.
The teams appeared headed for overtime until Wesleyan pushed forward once more in the final seconds. Robbins controlled the ball down the left side and sent a centering pass in near the goal.
The ball redirected out near the left side of the box to Cox, who fired a hard shot into the upper-left corner to give the Trojans, who had trailed midway through the first half, the lead with just seconds remaining.
“I saw it and I just told myself that I was going to smash it,” Cox said. “So, I just hit it and it ended up going in the top corner through the keeper. I was so excited. When I score, the team scores – we all celebrate together.
“We just need to work hard, come together and get the dub,” he said, looking ahead to the championship.
The Eagles (15-3) took the lead in the 20th minute when they moved the ball well in front and netted a shot inside the left post. But Wesleyan answered in the 33rd minute when, following an opportunity that barely missed, Cox controlled a poor goal kick along the side and dished to Robbins in front.
The Trojans narrowly missed taking the lead in the 36th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box. The shot was saved and the teams remained tied into halftime. But Wesleyan kept up the pressure – outshooting the Eagles 11-6 in the second half and 33-12 for the match.
David Le finished with seven saves for the Trojans, ranked No. 2 in the state – public or private – by MaxPreps and No. 27 nationally. They will take on second-seeded Ravenscroft (18-1), which is ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 11 nationally, on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sanford Field.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to play the last game our seniors will play at home,” Reitnour said. “The thing we’re most excited about as a group is that we get Wednesday together, Thursday together, Friday together and Saturday together. If we don’t score and we lose, then we don’t get this last bit of time together. But we have more time together,” he said with a smile.
