Prep soccer -- Warriors hold off Aycock

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 28, 2004 1:57 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock hardly looked like a team that has struggled during second-half play on the highly-competitive Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference boys' soccer scene on Wednesday evening.

The Golden Falcons played as if they ruled the roost, daring anyone even long-time rival Eastern Wayne, to knock them off their perch.

"I'm pleased with that effort right there," Aycock assistant coach Byron Adkins said. "Con-sidering the game we played last night to tonight, it was very nice. It was a very entertaining game."

And an agonizing game, too.

Aycock rifled shots off corner kicks, free kicks and throw-ins, but just couldn't find the mark in the second half. The Warrior defense played strong and senior goal keeper Stephen Stackhouse turned in a phenomenal effort in a 2-1 victory at Hardy Talton Stadium.

Eastern Wayne (13-4) claimed a program-best 10th league victory in a season since the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference formed in 2001. The Warriors' four-year ECC worksheet is 34-8-2.

Adkins devised a simple and effective game plan.

"We wanted to press Eastern Wayne this time instead of sliding back and shifting in and out," Adkins said.

The Golden Falcons' aggressive play forced the Warriors into careless turnovers and compelled them scramble back defensively once they lost possession. The pressure resulted in three shots on goal and one save by Stackhouse nearly 20 minutes into the contest.

Bobby Gambella also aided Stackhouse with a defensive back clear inside the box in the 19th minute. Aycock's Bennett Jeffreys threw the ball deep into the six-yard box and teammate Danny Derwitz misfired on a header toward the back post.

"Aycock was able to put a lot of pressure on us," veteran Warriors coach Jorg Wagner said. "They started attacking us before we got across midfield. As soon as we gained possession, there would be two or three guys (on the ball).

"Today, we were not alert enough to knock the ball around. I like to think we have the personnel to do that despite pressure coming our way, but Aycock surely showed us our limits tonight."

The Warriors caught a break in the 22nd minute.

Junior Andrew Corley chased a through ball that two Golden Falcon defenders failed to clear in the box. Keeper Jake Bunn came off the line in support of his teammates, but left an open area for Corley to collect the game's first goal.

"They all came, but no one got the ball except the Eastern Wayne player," Adkins said. "That was good luck for him and was probably the easiest goal he scored all year long."

Aycock (12-8, 6-6) continued pressuring the Warrior defense and finally converted a shot attempt in the 32nd minute. Sophomore forward Garrett Davis gained possession against defenders David Hook and Justin Smith near the right sideline.

Davis dribbled into the 18-yard box and avoided the slide tackle by Hook. Stackhouse crept toward the near post and dove just as Davis' shot deflected off the inside post. The ball rolled toward the back post and over the line for the 1-1 tie before Eric Bourgeois could clear it.

Eastern Wayne answered three minutes later.

Corley took a shot from the right side and Bunn made a diving glove save. The ball glanced off an Aycock defender and rolled to Bourgeois' feet, and he tucked it away into an empty net for the eventual 2-1 finale.

Adkins couldn't believe the Warriors connected.

Wagner praised his team for continuing to follow the play.

"Eric did what he's supposed to as an outside midfielder to come in and cover the back post when the first forward goes to the near post," Wagner said. "The goal came out of the flow of play and was nicely done."

The Golden Falcons opened the second half with five consecutive shots on goal -- three off corner kicks, one off a throw-in and the other a deflection inside the 6-yard box. Stackhouse notched four saves in the 10-minute flurry and finished with six stops overall.

Eastern Wayne owned an 18-13 advantage in shots on goal. Each team attempted eight corner kicks.

"When you press a team, you're going to get your opportunities and the object is when you get your opportunities, you have to score," Adkins said. "Tonight, the throw was working for us. We had a lot of chances and they had a lot of chances."

Both teams open N.C. High School Athletic Association playoff action next week against opponents to be determined.

Eastern Wayne 2 0 -- 2

C.B. Aycock 1 0 -- 1

First half

EW -- Andrew Corley (unassisted), 21:16

CBA -- Garrett Davis (unassisted), 31:03

EW -- Eric Bourgeois (unassisted), 34:22

E. Wayne CBA

18 Shots on goal 13

8 Corner kicks 8

0 Offsides 0

11 Fouls 15

Saves -- E. Wayne -- Stackhouse 6. C.B. Aycock -- Quinn 0, Bunn 5.