Grace rolls into NCISAA 1A semifinals
By JOHN CATE jcate@sanfordherald.com May 8, 2021
Grace Christian entered Friday’s NCISAA 1A soccer quarterfinal match with a few players banged up, and it took the MaxPreps’ second-ranked team in the classification a while to get going. But once they did, the Crusaders took care of business with a 9-0 win over Cape Fear Christian.
Grace (13-2 overall) scored four goals in a 12-minute span to begin the second half, responding to a halftime challenge by head coach Nathaniel Rhine to get four goals in the first 20 minutes and end the match early. The Crusaders scored three times in the first three minutes of the half, and then clinched it with Zahra Fepessi’s third goal of the evening, off an assist from Meara Hoffman, with 28:07 left on the clock.
Fepessi found the back of the net three times, while teammate Joelle Krivet tallied five goals. Lillian Schmitt picked up the other one. However, they had plenty to thank from their teammates. The Crusaders’ back line and midfield were dominant throughout the contest, and Cape Fear didn’t get a shot on goal until the second half. In fact, Grace keeper Karli Bullard didn’t even touch the ball until 91 seconds remained in the first half.
The Crusaders threatened the Eagles’ goal from the get-go, with Fepessi, Kayden Michael, and Krevet all getting looks at the goal before the latter finally broke through in the ninth minute. Schmitt got a pass into the goal box and Krevet finished to put the home team on the board.
Cape Fear continued to battle hard against a Grace team that was just barely missing connections, and it took 10 minutes before Krevet scored again, this time off a pass from Jamie Cook for a 2-0 lead in minute 19.
Schmitt earned her second assist in the 25th minute, finding Fepessi open on a run down the middle of the field. She finished from about 12 yards out for the third Crusader goal.
Now Grace Christian began to turn up the heat on the tiring Cape Fear back line, but several missed connections kept the score from getting out of hand until late in the opening 40 minutes. In minute 33, Krevet thought she had her hat trick, but this time, the Eagles’ keeper was able to get her hands on the ball and knock the shot away. Unfortunately for her, the ball ended up just outside the right post, where Schmitt put it into the net.
Schmitt returned the favor in the 37th minute, coming down the left side of the field and delivering a pass to Krevet 10 yards in front of the goal. This time, she got the hat trick and the Crusaders led 5-0 at intermission.
Coach Rhine wasn’t disappointed with the first half, but he did want his team to finish strong heading into the 1A final four. Right before the teams returned to the field, he asked his team to end the match in the first 20 minutes after the break.
They nearly got there in five minutes. After just 21 seconds of play in the half, McKensie Boyte, who had been helping Grace control the midfield throughout, got the ball to Fepessi on a run down the middle of the Eagles’ defense for a goal. The Crusaders took possession on the ensuing kickoff and Fepessi turned facilitator, finding Krevet for her fourth goal and Grace’s seventh of the contest.
Less than two minutes later, officially still in the 43rd minute of action, lightning struck twice. Fepessi ahead to Krevet, and the lead was 8-0.
After a few near-misses, the match ended in minute 52, when Hoffman got the ball to Fepessi, who finished to invoke the nine-goal “mercy rule” and send Grace to the semifinals.
Grace outshot Cape Fear 33-1 in a dominating performance at both ends of the field.
The Crusaders will host either Lee Christian or Southside Christian on Tuesday for the right to play for the state championship.
By JOHN CATE jcate@sanfordherald.com May 8, 2021
Grace Christian entered Friday’s NCISAA 1A soccer quarterfinal match with a few players banged up, and it took the MaxPreps’ second-ranked team in the classification a while to get going. But once they did, the Crusaders took care of business with a 9-0 win over Cape Fear Christian.
Grace (13-2 overall) scored four goals in a 12-minute span to begin the second half, responding to a halftime challenge by head coach Nathaniel Rhine to get four goals in the first 20 minutes and end the match early. The Crusaders scored three times in the first three minutes of the half, and then clinched it with Zahra Fepessi’s third goal of the evening, off an assist from Meara Hoffman, with 28:07 left on the clock.
Fepessi found the back of the net three times, while teammate Joelle Krivet tallied five goals. Lillian Schmitt picked up the other one. However, they had plenty to thank from their teammates. The Crusaders’ back line and midfield were dominant throughout the contest, and Cape Fear didn’t get a shot on goal until the second half. In fact, Grace keeper Karli Bullard didn’t even touch the ball until 91 seconds remained in the first half.
The Crusaders threatened the Eagles’ goal from the get-go, with Fepessi, Kayden Michael, and Krevet all getting looks at the goal before the latter finally broke through in the ninth minute. Schmitt got a pass into the goal box and Krevet finished to put the home team on the board.
Cape Fear continued to battle hard against a Grace team that was just barely missing connections, and it took 10 minutes before Krevet scored again, this time off a pass from Jamie Cook for a 2-0 lead in minute 19.
Schmitt earned her second assist in the 25th minute, finding Fepessi open on a run down the middle of the field. She finished from about 12 yards out for the third Crusader goal.
Now Grace Christian began to turn up the heat on the tiring Cape Fear back line, but several missed connections kept the score from getting out of hand until late in the opening 40 minutes. In minute 33, Krevet thought she had her hat trick, but this time, the Eagles’ keeper was able to get her hands on the ball and knock the shot away. Unfortunately for her, the ball ended up just outside the right post, where Schmitt put it into the net.
Schmitt returned the favor in the 37th minute, coming down the left side of the field and delivering a pass to Krevet 10 yards in front of the goal. This time, she got the hat trick and the Crusaders led 5-0 at intermission.
Coach Rhine wasn’t disappointed with the first half, but he did want his team to finish strong heading into the 1A final four. Right before the teams returned to the field, he asked his team to end the match in the first 20 minutes after the break.
They nearly got there in five minutes. After just 21 seconds of play in the half, McKensie Boyte, who had been helping Grace control the midfield throughout, got the ball to Fepessi on a run down the middle of the Eagles’ defense for a goal. The Crusaders took possession on the ensuing kickoff and Fepessi turned facilitator, finding Krevet for her fourth goal and Grace’s seventh of the contest.
Less than two minutes later, officially still in the 43rd minute of action, lightning struck twice. Fepessi ahead to Krevet, and the lead was 8-0.
After a few near-misses, the match ended in minute 52, when Hoffman got the ball to Fepessi, who finished to invoke the nine-goal “mercy rule” and send Grace to the semifinals.
Grace outshot Cape Fear 33-1 in a dominating performance at both ends of the field.
The Crusaders will host either Lee Christian or Southside Christian on Tuesday for the right to play for the state championship.
