Culp's hat trick keys Wildcats' win
Oct 09
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – Westchester Country Day bounced back with a solid win and gave itself a chance to win a conference championship.
The Wildcats scored the first two goals of the game during the first half and pulled away in the second half to beat Calvary Day 4-1 in Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference boys soccer on a rainy Tuesday night at Westchester’s Kennedy Field.
“It was a great response – last week we lost 2-0 against them at their place,” Westchester coach Adam Schwartz said. “We just made some careless mistakes. But I think we’re playing really good right now, playing together. We’ve got 10 seniors who are leading us, and now we’ll get ready to play Friday against Caldwell on Senior Night with a possible conference championship on the line.
“It was a great all-around game. The defense made one mistake in the first half, and we allowed their best player to score. Then we really focused on that at halftime and did a great job with that in the second half – team defense. We looked fresh, got some subs in, and we took advantage of some of their mistakes – they’re a really good team. I’m just really proud of our seniors.”
George Culp scored three goals while Myles Patterson scored one to lead the Wildcats (9-5 overall, 6-3 PTAC), who lost against Caldwell 2-1 on Monday in a game resumed in overtime from their Sept. 27 match.
Aidan Lim and Alex Nixon each had an assist as Westchester – which, with a win Friday at home against Caldwell Academy in its regular-season finale, would clinch at least a share of the PTAC title – led 2-1 into halftime.
“I feel like all the seniors really gave us a big spark,” said Culp, a sophomore forward. “They’re always talking to us and lifting us up. We came together and played well, and I think it worked out well for us.
“I think it was nice to get up,” he said of the first half. “We had a lot of energy and they kind of put their heads down. And it just took off from there.”
The Wildcats took the lead in the eighth minute when Culp took a short pass ahead, edged past the goalkeeper and scored. They extended their lead in the 28th minute when, after they won a ball in the midfield and passed the ball ahead, Culp fended off the defender and ripped a contested shot.
The Cougars (12-5, 6-3), who scored an apparent goal in the 25th minute but it was waved off on an offsides call, answered in the 30th minute. But Westchester scored on a pivotal free kick by Culp in the 51st minute and Patterson followed it in the 58th minute on a shot into the upper corner.
“My teammate actually said that I should go the other way, and I said, ‘Ah, I might go the other way,’” Culp said with a laugh, describing his free-kick goal. “I just did it and it worked out.
“I think it just gave us confidence because last year they made an insane comeback against us. So, just to get up and get a cushion was really comfortable.”
Cook Smith made five saves while Gavin Brumfield had three saves as the Wildcats outshot Calvary 16-11 for the game. Westchester will next play Friday at home against Caldwell at 7 p.m. The seeding meeting for the state playoffs will be Sunday, and play will begin Tuesday.
“Last year, we were up 2-0 with two minutes to go (against Calvary) and ended up tying,” Schwartz said. “That felt like a loss. We talked about that, so we just kept pounding, kept pounding. Our goal was just to keep going and not settle. I want them to play like we’re down a goal. That’s how we want to play.
“Reece Hetley in the back, controlling and talking to the defenders. He’s really grown up, and he did a great job talking with our seniors, the midfielders. I’m just proud of them – that’s a great response.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com
Oct 09
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – Westchester Country Day bounced back with a solid win and gave itself a chance to win a conference championship.
The Wildcats scored the first two goals of the game during the first half and pulled away in the second half to beat Calvary Day 4-1 in Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference boys soccer on a rainy Tuesday night at Westchester’s Kennedy Field.
“It was a great response – last week we lost 2-0 against them at their place,” Westchester coach Adam Schwartz said. “We just made some careless mistakes. But I think we’re playing really good right now, playing together. We’ve got 10 seniors who are leading us, and now we’ll get ready to play Friday against Caldwell on Senior Night with a possible conference championship on the line.
“It was a great all-around game. The defense made one mistake in the first half, and we allowed their best player to score. Then we really focused on that at halftime and did a great job with that in the second half – team defense. We looked fresh, got some subs in, and we took advantage of some of their mistakes – they’re a really good team. I’m just really proud of our seniors.”
George Culp scored three goals while Myles Patterson scored one to lead the Wildcats (9-5 overall, 6-3 PTAC), who lost against Caldwell 2-1 on Monday in a game resumed in overtime from their Sept. 27 match.
Aidan Lim and Alex Nixon each had an assist as Westchester – which, with a win Friday at home against Caldwell Academy in its regular-season finale, would clinch at least a share of the PTAC title – led 2-1 into halftime.
“I feel like all the seniors really gave us a big spark,” said Culp, a sophomore forward. “They’re always talking to us and lifting us up. We came together and played well, and I think it worked out well for us.
“I think it was nice to get up,” he said of the first half. “We had a lot of energy and they kind of put their heads down. And it just took off from there.”
The Wildcats took the lead in the eighth minute when Culp took a short pass ahead, edged past the goalkeeper and scored. They extended their lead in the 28th minute when, after they won a ball in the midfield and passed the ball ahead, Culp fended off the defender and ripped a contested shot.
The Cougars (12-5, 6-3), who scored an apparent goal in the 25th minute but it was waved off on an offsides call, answered in the 30th minute. But Westchester scored on a pivotal free kick by Culp in the 51st minute and Patterson followed it in the 58th minute on a shot into the upper corner.
“My teammate actually said that I should go the other way, and I said, ‘Ah, I might go the other way,’” Culp said with a laugh, describing his free-kick goal. “I just did it and it worked out.
“I think it just gave us confidence because last year they made an insane comeback against us. So, just to get up and get a cushion was really comfortable.”
Cook Smith made five saves while Gavin Brumfield had three saves as the Wildcats outshot Calvary 16-11 for the game. Westchester will next play Friday at home against Caldwell at 7 p.m. The seeding meeting for the state playoffs will be Sunday, and play will begin Tuesday.
“Last year, we were up 2-0 with two minutes to go (against Calvary) and ended up tying,” Schwartz said. “That felt like a loss. We talked about that, so we just kept pounding, kept pounding. Our goal was just to keep going and not settle. I want them to play like we’re down a goal. That’s how we want to play.
“Reece Hetley in the back, controlling and talking to the defenders. He’s really grown up, and he did a great job talking with our seniors, the midfielders. I’m just proud of them – that’s a great response.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com
