Trojans turn back Knights, 3-0
BY MICHAEL LINDSAYENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
— Eventually Wesleyan Christian’s early spark took hold.The Trojans scored 18 seconds into the match and, after a lull much of the remainder of the first half, pulled away with two goals during the second half to beat Charlotte Christian 3-0 in NCISAA boys soccer Saturday afternoon at Wesleyan’s Sanford Field.
“I felt like we played really well for the first 30 seconds,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “And then we suffered a bit of a letdown. Charlotte Christian responded much better to giving up a goal than we did to scoring a goal. So, I’m super-proud of scoring an early goal — we worked really hard to earn it.
“But then most of the half was played in front of our bench. Christian responded and they’re a very good team. But I’m really pleased with how we responded in the second half, especially Grayson Gardner. His first half to second half performance — he really responded well.
“After that great start and then a bit of mal-aise, I felt like we turned it up a bit and played more like we’re capable of playing most of the second half.”Macoy Strawn, Konner Robbins and Grayson Gardner each scored for the Trojans (7-3), who have posted three shutouts in a row during a four-match win-ning streak. Jacob Wood also had two assists, while Riley Parks had one.
Wesleyan took the lead in the frst minute when Wood won a contested ball near the right endline, stepped to the middle and sent a pass in front of the goal to Strawn, who quickly buried the shot
.“I saw the ball come from Grayson and I was like, ‘I’ve got to get there,’ ” said Wood, a junior.
“The defender was trying to shield it, so I just tried to get a little touch so it didn’t go out. I made one turn and found Macoy.“I told everyone before the game that we needed to score an early goal, because it’s hot and they didn’t have that many players. So, a lot of JV players played double games. So, if we score early, we could put the pressure on.”
But the Trojans, who have won six of the last eight state championships (including the last two in a row), weren’t quite as sharp the rest of the half and eased into halftime with a 1-0 lead.In the second half, however, Wesleyan surged ahead once again — scoring in the 43rd minute on a through-ball by Wood to Robbins, who finished near the top of the box, and in the 69th minute on a header by Gardner off a cor-ner kick.
“We started moving the ball more and were more dynamic in front of the goal,” Wood said of the second half. “We found the pockets and found the runs. We just connected more, the chemistr y was there and we started playing better.”
Dozier Snipes made three saves while Sherik Gobran made two for the Trojans, who outshot the Knights (0-3) by a 21-10 margin — including 13-5 during the second half — as they continued to make strides as the season progresses.
“I told one of the officials before the game that we watched footage, because we film all our games, of one of the officials warming up before one of our games,” Reitnour said. “Just about 90 seconds, and he was clearly here to do a job and the best possible job he could do. We have to respect that, and we have to respect our opponent and take responsibility for the way we play.“
If there was a pill I could give our team before each season so we didn’t have to learn that lesson ever y single year, I would pay good money for it. But there’s not. I think we were a bit immature and inconsistent early on. And now we’re maturing and growing up.“
We’re taking responsibility for things and we’re not pointing fingers, and we’re being more respectful of our opponent and the offi cials. It’s funny how better men make better players. And I think because our players are hope-fully becoming better men, then we’ll see an improvement on the field. That’s just how it works.”
Wesleyan’s next match is Tuesday at home against R.J. Reynolds.
mlindsay@hpene
BY MICHAEL LINDSAYENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
— Eventually Wesleyan Christian’s early spark took hold.The Trojans scored 18 seconds into the match and, after a lull much of the remainder of the first half, pulled away with two goals during the second half to beat Charlotte Christian 3-0 in NCISAA boys soccer Saturday afternoon at Wesleyan’s Sanford Field.
“I felt like we played really well for the first 30 seconds,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “And then we suffered a bit of a letdown. Charlotte Christian responded much better to giving up a goal than we did to scoring a goal. So, I’m super-proud of scoring an early goal — we worked really hard to earn it.
“But then most of the half was played in front of our bench. Christian responded and they’re a very good team. But I’m really pleased with how we responded in the second half, especially Grayson Gardner. His first half to second half performance — he really responded well.
“After that great start and then a bit of mal-aise, I felt like we turned it up a bit and played more like we’re capable of playing most of the second half.”Macoy Strawn, Konner Robbins and Grayson Gardner each scored for the Trojans (7-3), who have posted three shutouts in a row during a four-match win-ning streak. Jacob Wood also had two assists, while Riley Parks had one.
Wesleyan took the lead in the frst minute when Wood won a contested ball near the right endline, stepped to the middle and sent a pass in front of the goal to Strawn, who quickly buried the shot
.“I saw the ball come from Grayson and I was like, ‘I’ve got to get there,’ ” said Wood, a junior.
“The defender was trying to shield it, so I just tried to get a little touch so it didn’t go out. I made one turn and found Macoy.“I told everyone before the game that we needed to score an early goal, because it’s hot and they didn’t have that many players. So, a lot of JV players played double games. So, if we score early, we could put the pressure on.”
But the Trojans, who have won six of the last eight state championships (including the last two in a row), weren’t quite as sharp the rest of the half and eased into halftime with a 1-0 lead.In the second half, however, Wesleyan surged ahead once again — scoring in the 43rd minute on a through-ball by Wood to Robbins, who finished near the top of the box, and in the 69th minute on a header by Gardner off a cor-ner kick.
“We started moving the ball more and were more dynamic in front of the goal,” Wood said of the second half. “We found the pockets and found the runs. We just connected more, the chemistr y was there and we started playing better.”
Dozier Snipes made three saves while Sherik Gobran made two for the Trojans, who outshot the Knights (0-3) by a 21-10 margin — including 13-5 during the second half — as they continued to make strides as the season progresses.
“I told one of the officials before the game that we watched footage, because we film all our games, of one of the officials warming up before one of our games,” Reitnour said. “Just about 90 seconds, and he was clearly here to do a job and the best possible job he could do. We have to respect that, and we have to respect our opponent and take responsibility for the way we play.“
If there was a pill I could give our team before each season so we didn’t have to learn that lesson ever y single year, I would pay good money for it. But there’s not. I think we were a bit immature and inconsistent early on. And now we’re maturing and growing up.“
We’re taking responsibility for things and we’re not pointing fingers, and we’re being more respectful of our opponent and the offi cials. It’s funny how better men make better players. And I think because our players are hope-fully becoming better men, then we’ll see an improvement on the field. That’s just how it works.”
Wesleyan’s next match is Tuesday at home against R.J. Reynolds.
mlindsay@hpene
