Wesleyan boots Greensboro Day
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
HP ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian executed well from the get-go to pick up another rivalry win and continued to build momentum as the postseason nears.
The Trojans scored twice within the first three minutes and then pulled away with three goals in the final 14 minutes to roll past Greensboro Day 6-1 in NCISAA PACIS 3A boys soccer Tuesday at Wesleyan’s Sanford Field.
“I feel like we played very well possessionally in the first half,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I really like the fact that we cracked the nut early and scored those two early goals. And then we just settled into a rhythm and kept the ball. We probably weren’t as dynamic as we could’ve been – a little lackluster in the final third. But we kept the ball, and that’s how we play.
“Greensboro Day’s organized and competed all the way through and made it very difficult for us. Even after we got that third goal, they refused to go away. And sure enough they hit us on that counter, made it 3-1 and it was a game. To our credit, we found a way to get that last goal and a couple others followed late. So, overall, we’re pleased – we’re finally almost 100 percent healthy.”
Evan Allred had two goals and two assists to lead the Trojans (16-0-3 overall, 4-0 PACIS), who are ranked No. 2 among NCISAA 3A teams. Caleb Compton scored two goals, while Konner Robbins had a goal and an assist.
David Greene also had a goal, while Phillip Cimpean, Gyslain Ndayikengunrkiye and Justin Sledge each had an assist as Wesleyan, coming off a win Friday against High Point Christian, led all but the opening 1 minute, 19 minutes of the match.
“I feel like we played well,” said Allred, a senior forward. “One of our main goals for this game was to get a few goals in the first half. We got two, which was exciting. And we got them early,which was a lot different than the way we’ve been playing recently.
“We were really looking to get into the striker and try to get in as quick as possible,” he said of the first-half goals.
“Just knock some balls forward and try to surprise them early, and we were able to do that. … I see it a lot in practice. But, when it comes to games, we were struggling to do it sometimes. So, it was good to fi nally see us getting into it early this game.”
Scoring on their first two shots of the game, the Trojans went ahead in the second minute, pushing the ball up the right side and passing in front, and extended their lead in the third minute on a corner kick that defl ected in front.
Wesleyan, which controlled the ball and connected passes well for long stretches throughout the match, led 2-0 at halftime and stretched its lead to three on a goal off a centering pass in the 45th minute.
But the Bengals (3-11-1, 2-2), who were without a shot for the fi rst 60 minutes, answered with a goal by Jack Delligatti off an assist by David Kahn in the 61st minute to stay within striking distance.
The Trojans, however, scored goals in the 67th minute following a shot off the post, 69th minute on a nice pass along the left side, and 87th minute off a centering pass from the corner to regain full control. Jackson Prillaman made one save ingoal for Wesleyan on three shots, while Stephen Key made 11 saves for Greensboro Day on 27 shots. Wesleyan playsagain Friday at home for homecoming against Southwestern Randolph.
“We have to recalibrate a little bit as we head into the postseason (which begins Oct. 17),” Reitnour said. “We’re not going to change stylistically the way we play or how we do things. But just making sure that everybody has found their form and making sure everybody’s healthy and managing the minutes, particularly the fi rst group that’s out there.
“The nice thing about our team is that we’re deep. We have guys who come on (in the third group) and they’re good players. We scored a goal with some of those guys on tonight. The difference on our team between the guys who are starting and the guys who come on is very fi ne – and then the difference between the guys who come on late. It’s a great problem for us to have.”
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
HP ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian executed well from the get-go to pick up another rivalry win and continued to build momentum as the postseason nears.
The Trojans scored twice within the first three minutes and then pulled away with three goals in the final 14 minutes to roll past Greensboro Day 6-1 in NCISAA PACIS 3A boys soccer Tuesday at Wesleyan’s Sanford Field.
“I feel like we played very well possessionally in the first half,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I really like the fact that we cracked the nut early and scored those two early goals. And then we just settled into a rhythm and kept the ball. We probably weren’t as dynamic as we could’ve been – a little lackluster in the final third. But we kept the ball, and that’s how we play.
“Greensboro Day’s organized and competed all the way through and made it very difficult for us. Even after we got that third goal, they refused to go away. And sure enough they hit us on that counter, made it 3-1 and it was a game. To our credit, we found a way to get that last goal and a couple others followed late. So, overall, we’re pleased – we’re finally almost 100 percent healthy.”
Evan Allred had two goals and two assists to lead the Trojans (16-0-3 overall, 4-0 PACIS), who are ranked No. 2 among NCISAA 3A teams. Caleb Compton scored two goals, while Konner Robbins had a goal and an assist.
David Greene also had a goal, while Phillip Cimpean, Gyslain Ndayikengunrkiye and Justin Sledge each had an assist as Wesleyan, coming off a win Friday against High Point Christian, led all but the opening 1 minute, 19 minutes of the match.
“I feel like we played well,” said Allred, a senior forward. “One of our main goals for this game was to get a few goals in the first half. We got two, which was exciting. And we got them early,which was a lot different than the way we’ve been playing recently.
“We were really looking to get into the striker and try to get in as quick as possible,” he said of the first-half goals.
“Just knock some balls forward and try to surprise them early, and we were able to do that. … I see it a lot in practice. But, when it comes to games, we were struggling to do it sometimes. So, it was good to fi nally see us getting into it early this game.”
Scoring on their first two shots of the game, the Trojans went ahead in the second minute, pushing the ball up the right side and passing in front, and extended their lead in the third minute on a corner kick that defl ected in front.
Wesleyan, which controlled the ball and connected passes well for long stretches throughout the match, led 2-0 at halftime and stretched its lead to three on a goal off a centering pass in the 45th minute.
But the Bengals (3-11-1, 2-2), who were without a shot for the fi rst 60 minutes, answered with a goal by Jack Delligatti off an assist by David Kahn in the 61st minute to stay within striking distance.
The Trojans, however, scored goals in the 67th minute following a shot off the post, 69th minute on a nice pass along the left side, and 87th minute off a centering pass from the corner to regain full control. Jackson Prillaman made one save ingoal for Wesleyan on three shots, while Stephen Key made 11 saves for Greensboro Day on 27 shots. Wesleyan playsagain Friday at home for homecoming against Southwestern Randolph.
“We have to recalibrate a little bit as we head into the postseason (which begins Oct. 17),” Reitnour said. “We’re not going to change stylistically the way we play or how we do things. But just making sure that everybody has found their form and making sure everybody’s healthy and managing the minutes, particularly the fi rst group that’s out there.
“The nice thing about our team is that we’re deep. We have guys who come on (in the third group) and they’re good players. We scored a goal with some of those guys on tonight. The difference on our team between the guys who are starting and the guys who come on is very fi ne – and then the difference between the guys who come on late. It’s a great problem for us to have.”
