Preston Frantz scores 2 goals as Fayetteville Christian defeats Freedom to claim NCISAA Sandhills championship
Monica Holland The Fayetteville Observer
Before Thursday’s NCISAA Sandhills Conference regular-season boys’ soccer finale was even 30 seconds old, Fayetteville Christian’s Preston Frantz found himself open in front of the net and capitalized with a quick toe kick for a 1-0 lead over Freedom Christian.
Frantz would score again in the second half, capping the Warriors’ 6-1 victory and a conference championship title for the visiting team.
“They’ve got a lot of resolve, a lot of heart, a lot of desire,” Fayetteville Christian Coach Bobby Graham said after the win. “They knew this was a tough one and we had to get it.”
Both teams entered the game with one loss. The Warriors (7-1) were coming off a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Village Christian on Friday, and Freedom (5-2) had won four straight since falling to Fayetteville Christian 2-1 on Sept. 22.
The teams played a conference-only, 3½-week schedule due to restrictions based on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think, because the season is so condensed, that we just grew and got better as the season went along, and we also got healthy,” Graham said. “It was tough to hit the ground running.”
The Warriors have found their stride, scoring 23 goals in their last three games.
After Frantz’s quick hit, Riley Sweeting took a long cross to the far post and nailed it at point-blank range to put the Warriors up 2-0. Justin Lagos weaved through the box to tap in another Fayetteville Christian goal, and fellow freshman Jaden James found enough of a window to nail another shot on goal for a 4-0 lead.
Sophomore Andrew Harris gave the Warriors their fifth goal of the first half on a rebound.
“The score is misleading,” Graham said. “It was a tight game. He’s got some dangerous players on that side.
“If they’d scored early on us, it’s a different game.”
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Both teams played physically but the Warriors showed more speed and execution, boosted by the early advantage.
“When you don’t start fast, you give the other team the advantage and you’re playing on your heels,” Patriots coach Chuck Overman said. “They took advantage of it, well-coached team, they played well together today.
“We played a little stronger in the second half, but it was their day and they are to be commended.”
Reynaldo Molina scored Freedom’s only goal on a penalty kick in the second half after teammate Connor Jacobs drew a foul.
That score gave the senior a team-high 12th goal of the season.
Molina’s shifty cuts and ridiculous dribbling skills frustrated the Warriors, but they used multiple defenders to contain him.
“The whole team on their side zeroed in on him, that was their main concern,” Overman said.
“I’ve had the privilege of coaching Rey since he was in the sixth grade, so I’ve gotten to see him develop. He’s a very strong player. He deserves a scholarship.”
Graham pointed to the play of Jacob Coyne as a bright spot for Fayetteville Christian. “He did a really good job of controlling the middle,” Graham said of the senior.
“Our plan was to guard important players on the other team, switch the ball, look for crosses, good ball movement,” Coyne said.
“I trust this team. Everyone on this team can pass the ball.”
Now, they can pass the trophy.
The NCISAA Sandhills Conference will hold tournament semifinals and finals beginning Tuesday, and the champion Warriors will be the top seed with the home-field advantage — a first for Graham in his tenure at Fayetteville Christian.
“This is my seventh year here and this is the first conference championship,” he said.
“We’re confident but we don’t want to be overconfident.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver.com.
Monica Holland The Fayetteville Observer
Before Thursday’s NCISAA Sandhills Conference regular-season boys’ soccer finale was even 30 seconds old, Fayetteville Christian’s Preston Frantz found himself open in front of the net and capitalized with a quick toe kick for a 1-0 lead over Freedom Christian.
Frantz would score again in the second half, capping the Warriors’ 6-1 victory and a conference championship title for the visiting team.
“They’ve got a lot of resolve, a lot of heart, a lot of desire,” Fayetteville Christian Coach Bobby Graham said after the win. “They knew this was a tough one and we had to get it.”
Both teams entered the game with one loss. The Warriors (7-1) were coming off a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Village Christian on Friday, and Freedom (5-2) had won four straight since falling to Fayetteville Christian 2-1 on Sept. 22.
The teams played a conference-only, 3½-week schedule due to restrictions based on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think, because the season is so condensed, that we just grew and got better as the season went along, and we also got healthy,” Graham said. “It was tough to hit the ground running.”
The Warriors have found their stride, scoring 23 goals in their last three games.
After Frantz’s quick hit, Riley Sweeting took a long cross to the far post and nailed it at point-blank range to put the Warriors up 2-0. Justin Lagos weaved through the box to tap in another Fayetteville Christian goal, and fellow freshman Jaden James found enough of a window to nail another shot on goal for a 4-0 lead.
Sophomore Andrew Harris gave the Warriors their fifth goal of the first half on a rebound.
“The score is misleading,” Graham said. “It was a tight game. He’s got some dangerous players on that side.
“If they’d scored early on us, it’s a different game.”
\
Both teams played physically but the Warriors showed more speed and execution, boosted by the early advantage.
“When you don’t start fast, you give the other team the advantage and you’re playing on your heels,” Patriots coach Chuck Overman said. “They took advantage of it, well-coached team, they played well together today.
“We played a little stronger in the second half, but it was their day and they are to be commended.”
Reynaldo Molina scored Freedom’s only goal on a penalty kick in the second half after teammate Connor Jacobs drew a foul.
That score gave the senior a team-high 12th goal of the season.
Molina’s shifty cuts and ridiculous dribbling skills frustrated the Warriors, but they used multiple defenders to contain him.
“The whole team on their side zeroed in on him, that was their main concern,” Overman said.
“I’ve had the privilege of coaching Rey since he was in the sixth grade, so I’ve gotten to see him develop. He’s a very strong player. He deserves a scholarship.”
Graham pointed to the play of Jacob Coyne as a bright spot for Fayetteville Christian. “He did a really good job of controlling the middle,” Graham said of the senior.
“Our plan was to guard important players on the other team, switch the ball, look for crosses, good ball movement,” Coyne said.
“I trust this team. Everyone on this team can pass the ball.”
Now, they can pass the trophy.
The NCISAA Sandhills Conference will hold tournament semifinals and finals beginning Tuesday, and the champion Warriors will be the top seed with the home-field advantage — a first for Graham in his tenure at Fayetteville Christian.
“This is my seventh year here and this is the first conference championship,” he said.
“We’re confident but we don’t want to be overconfident.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver.com.
