Gaston Christian rolls past Gaston Day in soccer
By Richard Walker
Gastonia Gazette staff
Posted Sep 19, 2017 at 8:51 PM Updated Sep 19, 2017 at 11:28 PM
Eagles score four times in the second half after Gaston Day defensive strategy frustrates them for a half
GASTONIA — For a half on Tuesday afternoon, Gaston Day’s defensive strategy seemed to frustrate visiting Gaston Christian in their rivalry soccer matchup.
Then the Eagles got untracked with four second-half goals to roll to a 5-1 victory in the first “Battle of the Bell” athletic matchup between the schools this year.
“They really made it tough on us,” Gaston Christian coach Justin Huitt said of Gaston Day’s defensive-minded game plan. “Their defense was really challenging. But our guys kept battling and kept creating chances and we started finding the back of the net.”
The Eagles improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Metrolina Athletic Conference as they improved to 5-0-1 in their last six meetings with Gaston Day.
In the opening half, Colten Brewer’s goal off a Lucas Whitesides assist gave Gaston Christian a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Then after the teams went scoreless for the next 40 minutes, Davis McBee scored in the 54th minute and Jacob Neely in the 58th as the Eagles increased their lead to 3-0.
After Gaston Day closed within 3-1 on Alonzo Edmond’s goal off a David Efird assist in the 65th minute, Gaston Christian scored twice more in the final 10 minutes on McBee’s second goal and a Frank Lopez goal. Neely finished with two assists and Nate Hoover also had an assist.
And while the Eagles’ offense was getting untracked — it outshot the Spartans 18-5 — its defense was stout throughout behind keeper Austin Helms and defenders Whitesides, Josh Putnam and Caleb Thornburg.
“The defense was huge for us,” said Huitt, whose team continues a challenging stretch of its schedule on Thursday at Northside Christian and on Friday (North Raleigh Christian) and Monday (Providence Day) at home. “It was a good all-around team effort.”
For Gaston Day, which fell to 8-3-1, 4-1-1, coach Greg Lekavich was pleased with his team’s effort even as the results didn’t play out the way he wanted.
By Richard Walker
Gastonia Gazette staff
Posted Sep 19, 2017 at 8:51 PM Updated Sep 19, 2017 at 11:28 PM
Eagles score four times in the second half after Gaston Day defensive strategy frustrates them for a half
GASTONIA — For a half on Tuesday afternoon, Gaston Day’s defensive strategy seemed to frustrate visiting Gaston Christian in their rivalry soccer matchup.
Then the Eagles got untracked with four second-half goals to roll to a 5-1 victory in the first “Battle of the Bell” athletic matchup between the schools this year.
“They really made it tough on us,” Gaston Christian coach Justin Huitt said of Gaston Day’s defensive-minded game plan. “Their defense was really challenging. But our guys kept battling and kept creating chances and we started finding the back of the net.”
The Eagles improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Metrolina Athletic Conference as they improved to 5-0-1 in their last six meetings with Gaston Day.
In the opening half, Colten Brewer’s goal off a Lucas Whitesides assist gave Gaston Christian a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Then after the teams went scoreless for the next 40 minutes, Davis McBee scored in the 54th minute and Jacob Neely in the 58th as the Eagles increased their lead to 3-0.
After Gaston Day closed within 3-1 on Alonzo Edmond’s goal off a David Efird assist in the 65th minute, Gaston Christian scored twice more in the final 10 minutes on McBee’s second goal and a Frank Lopez goal. Neely finished with two assists and Nate Hoover also had an assist.
And while the Eagles’ offense was getting untracked — it outshot the Spartans 18-5 — its defense was stout throughout behind keeper Austin Helms and defenders Whitesides, Josh Putnam and Caleb Thornburg.
“The defense was huge for us,” said Huitt, whose team continues a challenging stretch of its schedule on Thursday at Northside Christian and on Friday (North Raleigh Christian) and Monday (Providence Day) at home. “It was a good all-around team effort.”
For Gaston Day, which fell to 8-3-1, 4-1-1, coach Greg Lekavich was pleased with his team’s effort even as the results didn’t play out the way he wanted.
