Wesleyan turns back Page, 2-0
Oct 05
Brett Deresienski | Special to the Enterprise
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian Academy turned back Page 2-0 in boys soccer in front of a packed homecoming crowd Friday night at Sanford Field.
Entering the game ranked fifth overall in the state and No. 48 nationally, the Trojans (13-2) came out in full force on the field and in the stands to hold off the Pirates (4-7).
Nathan Cox got the scoring started for the Trojans, sneaking one past Page’s goalie with 5:50 to play in the first half. For Cox, it was his sixth goal on the season, tying Phillip Cimpean and Konner Robbins for third-most on the team.
Things remained deadlocked in a defensive battle until Zach Thompson snuck one into the net with 12:45 to play. Wesleyan won the NCISAA 3A state title a year ago before moving up to 4A independent status this season.
“It was a team goal,” Thompson said of scoring his second goal of the season. “For me it’s been a two-year process, one of hard work and determination. I just tipped one over the top and it went in from there.”
The defense posted its sixth shutout of the year and second in a row, led by David Le, who put up another solid performance in net. Le entered the night averaging nearly five saves per game and only allowing eight goals against in 14 games played this season.
“I thought we did a good job,” WCA coach Scott Reitnour said. “We try not to get pulled away from our processes, which are: Put the ball down, connect passes, then win the ball back in six seconds every time. We connected a little under 500 passes tonight, which is really hard to do against a good team like Page.”
For some fans, this game was more about the atmosphere than the soccer itself. Homecoming has been a longstanding tradition with fans and students of Wesleyan and it showed.
“Twenty-seven years of doing this and you can see the kind of crowd we have,” said head of school Dr. Rob Brown on the tradition of homecoming. “Alumni come out, all of our parents, all of our students. The kids come over and celebrate with all our students in a very respectful and gracious way. It’s a great night.”
Up next for the Trojans, who are ranked No. 2 among NCISAA 4A teams, is a match at North Raleigh Christian Academy on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and their regular-season finale Thursday at home against Cary Academy. The state playoffs will begin Oct. 16, with the top four teams getting a bye into the quarterfinals Oct. 19.
Oct 05
Brett Deresienski | Special to the Enterprise
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian Academy turned back Page 2-0 in boys soccer in front of a packed homecoming crowd Friday night at Sanford Field.
Entering the game ranked fifth overall in the state and No. 48 nationally, the Trojans (13-2) came out in full force on the field and in the stands to hold off the Pirates (4-7).
Nathan Cox got the scoring started for the Trojans, sneaking one past Page’s goalie with 5:50 to play in the first half. For Cox, it was his sixth goal on the season, tying Phillip Cimpean and Konner Robbins for third-most on the team.
Things remained deadlocked in a defensive battle until Zach Thompson snuck one into the net with 12:45 to play. Wesleyan won the NCISAA 3A state title a year ago before moving up to 4A independent status this season.
“It was a team goal,” Thompson said of scoring his second goal of the season. “For me it’s been a two-year process, one of hard work and determination. I just tipped one over the top and it went in from there.”
The defense posted its sixth shutout of the year and second in a row, led by David Le, who put up another solid performance in net. Le entered the night averaging nearly five saves per game and only allowing eight goals against in 14 games played this season.
“I thought we did a good job,” WCA coach Scott Reitnour said. “We try not to get pulled away from our processes, which are: Put the ball down, connect passes, then win the ball back in six seconds every time. We connected a little under 500 passes tonight, which is really hard to do against a good team like Page.”
For some fans, this game was more about the atmosphere than the soccer itself. Homecoming has been a longstanding tradition with fans and students of Wesleyan and it showed.
“Twenty-seven years of doing this and you can see the kind of crowd we have,” said head of school Dr. Rob Brown on the tradition of homecoming. “Alumni come out, all of our parents, all of our students. The kids come over and celebrate with all our students in a very respectful and gracious way. It’s a great night.”
Up next for the Trojans, who are ranked No. 2 among NCISAA 4A teams, is a match at North Raleigh Christian Academy on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and their regular-season finale Thursday at home against Cary Academy. The state playoffs will begin Oct. 16, with the top four teams getting a bye into the quarterfinals Oct. 19.
