Cowboys topple Trojans for Triad Cup championship
• Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
BERMUDA RUN — Southwest Guilford did everything it needed to earn a big win.
The Cowboys scored the lone goal of the match midway through the first half, held on defensively the rest of the way and defeated Wesleyan Christian 1-0 on Saturday at Truist Sports Park in the championship of the Triad Cup boys soccer tournament.
“Obviously, it’s a privilege to play Wesleyan at any point, and I have so much respect for Coach Reitnour and that program,” said first-year Southwest coach Corbin Waller, who was an assistant coach at Wesleyan for a number of years.
“They just bring quality all the time. It was a great game. My boys gave everything they had, and it took everything we had to finish it out.”
The Cowboys (3-0) took the lead in the 27th minute after drawing a foul along the left side. As his teammate stepped toward the ball, Brandon Hill struck a 25-yard free kick from just beyond the penalty area that found the net.
“It was just a foul outside the box,” Waller said. “And I think we’ve scored three goals in three games off set pieces. We just have really good players. So, when they have an opportunity, they will take it. I loved it.”
From there, it was just about hanging on. The Trojans — a perennial private-school state contender — played their game of possession and passing. But they couldn’t quite break through Southwest’s final level of defense.
“We had really, really good organization in the back,” said Waller, a former High Point Central standout. “Trace (Rogers) and Joey (Hurley) in the back kept us organized, and Brandon (Hill) in the middle.
“We were really organized. We knew they would have the ball. We knew they’d try to break us down. And we just did our best to stay behind the ball. They’re just a class program, so we just did our best.”
Southwest’s job got a little easier in the 70th minute when, following a foul and some minor pushing and shoving, a Wesleyan defender picked up his second yellow card, leaving the Trojans down a man for the final 10 minutes.
Tensions again boiled over in the final seconds, but the result was nothing of consequence. And moments later the Cowboys celebrated their championship.
“I think for the boys it is a huge confidence boost,” Waller said. “It confirms their ability. I think this confirms in their minds that they can play with anybody. And when we stay disciplined and organized, we can be competitive.”
On the other side, it was a disappointing result for the Trojans (3-2). And they’ll have plenty to learn from it.
“We played poorly,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I thought Southwest were more competitive in the truest sense of the word. I thought particularly in the first half, they demonstrated more energy, enthusiasm, commitment and resolve.
“We had a lot of the ball in the first half, but it was all in front of their 4-3-2-1 and we didn’t look to penetrate and get behind. I thought we committed needless and stupid fouls on their half, which gave them opportunities to put the ball in our penalty area and gave Brandon Hill an opportunity to take a magnificent free kick. And our guys have to learn that hard lesson.”
Tyler Asbury and David Merced combined for the shutout for Southwest, which next plays Tuesday at home against Mount Tabor. Duncan Bell was in goal for the Trojans, who play Tuesday at Charlotte Latin.
• Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
BERMUDA RUN — Southwest Guilford did everything it needed to earn a big win.
The Cowboys scored the lone goal of the match midway through the first half, held on defensively the rest of the way and defeated Wesleyan Christian 1-0 on Saturday at Truist Sports Park in the championship of the Triad Cup boys soccer tournament.
“Obviously, it’s a privilege to play Wesleyan at any point, and I have so much respect for Coach Reitnour and that program,” said first-year Southwest coach Corbin Waller, who was an assistant coach at Wesleyan for a number of years.
“They just bring quality all the time. It was a great game. My boys gave everything they had, and it took everything we had to finish it out.”
The Cowboys (3-0) took the lead in the 27th minute after drawing a foul along the left side. As his teammate stepped toward the ball, Brandon Hill struck a 25-yard free kick from just beyond the penalty area that found the net.
“It was just a foul outside the box,” Waller said. “And I think we’ve scored three goals in three games off set pieces. We just have really good players. So, when they have an opportunity, they will take it. I loved it.”
From there, it was just about hanging on. The Trojans — a perennial private-school state contender — played their game of possession and passing. But they couldn’t quite break through Southwest’s final level of defense.
“We had really, really good organization in the back,” said Waller, a former High Point Central standout. “Trace (Rogers) and Joey (Hurley) in the back kept us organized, and Brandon (Hill) in the middle.
“We were really organized. We knew they would have the ball. We knew they’d try to break us down. And we just did our best to stay behind the ball. They’re just a class program, so we just did our best.”
Southwest’s job got a little easier in the 70th minute when, following a foul and some minor pushing and shoving, a Wesleyan defender picked up his second yellow card, leaving the Trojans down a man for the final 10 minutes.
Tensions again boiled over in the final seconds, but the result was nothing of consequence. And moments later the Cowboys celebrated their championship.
“I think for the boys it is a huge confidence boost,” Waller said. “It confirms their ability. I think this confirms in their minds that they can play with anybody. And when we stay disciplined and organized, we can be competitive.”
On the other side, it was a disappointing result for the Trojans (3-2). And they’ll have plenty to learn from it.
“We played poorly,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I thought Southwest were more competitive in the truest sense of the word. I thought particularly in the first half, they demonstrated more energy, enthusiasm, commitment and resolve.
“We had a lot of the ball in the first half, but it was all in front of their 4-3-2-1 and we didn’t look to penetrate and get behind. I thought we committed needless and stupid fouls on their half, which gave them opportunities to put the ball in our penalty area and gave Brandon Hill an opportunity to take a magnificent free kick. And our guys have to learn that hard lesson.”
Tyler Asbury and David Merced combined for the shutout for Southwest, which next plays Tuesday at home against Mount Tabor. Duncan Bell was in goal for the Trojans, who play Tuesday at Charlotte Latin.
