History made
Wilson Prep wins 1st game on its new field with 3-0 victory
By Tom Ham hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
Historic day. Historic occasion. And the Wilson Preparatory Academy varsity boys soccer team wound up immensely enjoying the late-afternoon portion.
With the temperature finally “cooling” after reaching an all-time Oct. 3 record of 99 degrees, the Tigers of head coach Mahlon Mills christened their new plush, green pitch with a 3-0 triumph against John Paul II Catholic of Greenville on a sultry Thursday evening.
Another first, much to the delight of founder/director Darryl Woodard, occurred with the start of the second half when the teams competed on an illuminated field. The new lights were turned on — for the first time, said the excited Woodard.
With freshman Zachary Modrey knocking in the first goal at the new facility on the first assist from junior Majesty Felder in the 14th minute, Wilson Prep of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1-A ranks — for the inaugural year — controlled play in notching its fourth win against one loss and two ties.
The Saints, 1-A members of the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association, lost for the 13th time in as many outings.
“It was a pleasure being out here and playing our first game on our new field,” expressed junior captain Alberta Herrera, who managed a goal and an assist. “I have been here a while and it means a lot to us to see this happen.”
“We enjoyed it,” added Mills. “But we were not putting too much effort into it at first. I looked at (John Paul’s) record and they hadn’t won a game.
“We played better the second half. But I thought we played better our last game. I think it was the anxiety, the moment of playing for the first time on the new field. We should get better.”
The Tigers constructed a 2-0 halftime lead on Herrera’s team-leading seventh goal. Junior George Wooten provided the assist.
Mills noted Wilson Prep cranked five dangerous shots in the first 10 minutes. Herrera, senior Leo Giddens and freshman Jahmeer Samspon generated threats later in the first half.
The Saints’ best opportunity came from junior Jackson Wilke’s shot off a free kick.
Well into the second half, WPA senior Dashaun Williams took a pass from Herrera and cranked an accurate shot into the right corner of the John Paul net.
The Tigers generated numerous other opportunities and were almost certainly denied a fourth goal when Saints defender Tyler Nelson, a freshman, stepped in and flicked the ball away from the mouth of the John Paul goal.
Freshman Justice Wall and sophomore Gregory Dillon managed early second-half opportunities for the Saints, and freshman Escobar Esteban was denied on a direct kick in the final minutes.
“This is just our third year and we don’t have enough soccer players,” explained Saints head coach Don Rudolph. “We just have three experienced players and it takes a little while. I thought we played a lot better — we improved a lot. I’m proud of the effort. It just takes a while.”
Herrera and Williams kept John Paul goalkeeper J.T. Lee and his defense busy.
Bolstered by the defensive wall of sophomore Nicholas Radeka, senior Nick Hyman, Wooten and freshman Taylor Howard, sophomore captain and goalkeeper Cameron Bryant posted seven saves and pitched the shutout.
“We played a lot as a team,” Herrera reviewed. “We were able to move the ball and get shots on goal, and we got the result we wanted.
“We know we’ve got a lot of fast players and we tried to take advantage of that on the through balls and long balls.”
Thus, the Tigers stand 1-0 in their new home. Woodard noted the project of building the soccer field and the sparkling new eight-lane track originated in 2012.
All told, about the only complaint to be heard Thursday evening was “this bug spray ain’t working.”
Wilson Prep wins 1st game on its new field with 3-0 victory
By Tom Ham hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
Historic day. Historic occasion. And the Wilson Preparatory Academy varsity boys soccer team wound up immensely enjoying the late-afternoon portion.
With the temperature finally “cooling” after reaching an all-time Oct. 3 record of 99 degrees, the Tigers of head coach Mahlon Mills christened their new plush, green pitch with a 3-0 triumph against John Paul II Catholic of Greenville on a sultry Thursday evening.
Another first, much to the delight of founder/director Darryl Woodard, occurred with the start of the second half when the teams competed on an illuminated field. The new lights were turned on — for the first time, said the excited Woodard.
With freshman Zachary Modrey knocking in the first goal at the new facility on the first assist from junior Majesty Felder in the 14th minute, Wilson Prep of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1-A ranks — for the inaugural year — controlled play in notching its fourth win against one loss and two ties.
The Saints, 1-A members of the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association, lost for the 13th time in as many outings.
“It was a pleasure being out here and playing our first game on our new field,” expressed junior captain Alberta Herrera, who managed a goal and an assist. “I have been here a while and it means a lot to us to see this happen.”
“We enjoyed it,” added Mills. “But we were not putting too much effort into it at first. I looked at (John Paul’s) record and they hadn’t won a game.
“We played better the second half. But I thought we played better our last game. I think it was the anxiety, the moment of playing for the first time on the new field. We should get better.”
The Tigers constructed a 2-0 halftime lead on Herrera’s team-leading seventh goal. Junior George Wooten provided the assist.
Mills noted Wilson Prep cranked five dangerous shots in the first 10 minutes. Herrera, senior Leo Giddens and freshman Jahmeer Samspon generated threats later in the first half.
The Saints’ best opportunity came from junior Jackson Wilke’s shot off a free kick.
Well into the second half, WPA senior Dashaun Williams took a pass from Herrera and cranked an accurate shot into the right corner of the John Paul net.
The Tigers generated numerous other opportunities and were almost certainly denied a fourth goal when Saints defender Tyler Nelson, a freshman, stepped in and flicked the ball away from the mouth of the John Paul goal.
Freshman Justice Wall and sophomore Gregory Dillon managed early second-half opportunities for the Saints, and freshman Escobar Esteban was denied on a direct kick in the final minutes.
“This is just our third year and we don’t have enough soccer players,” explained Saints head coach Don Rudolph. “We just have three experienced players and it takes a little while. I thought we played a lot better — we improved a lot. I’m proud of the effort. It just takes a while.”
Herrera and Williams kept John Paul goalkeeper J.T. Lee and his defense busy.
Bolstered by the defensive wall of sophomore Nicholas Radeka, senior Nick Hyman, Wooten and freshman Taylor Howard, sophomore captain and goalkeeper Cameron Bryant posted seven saves and pitched the shutout.
“We played a lot as a team,” Herrera reviewed. “We were able to move the ball and get shots on goal, and we got the result we wanted.
“We know we’ve got a lot of fast players and we tried to take advantage of that on the through balls and long balls.”
Thus, the Tigers stand 1-0 in their new home. Woodard noted the project of building the soccer field and the sparkling new eight-lane track originated in 2012.
All told, about the only complaint to be heard Thursday evening was “this bug spray ain’t working.”
