Spartans take out Aycock from soccer playoffs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 4, 2004 1:57 PM

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SMITHFIELD -- Smithfield-Selma's controlled possession game and its ability to score from numerous positions inside the 18-yard box caused trouble for Charles B. Aycock on Wednesday evening.

The Golden Falcons' lack of intensity, energy and focus didn't help matters, either.

Nine different Spartans collected at least one goal apiece in an 11-0, opening-round victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A boys' soccer playoffs. Smithfield-Selma (21-3-1) continues play Saturday at Big Eight North champion Wilson Fike.

Aycock concluded its season 12-9.

"We played outstanding in the Eastern Wayne game and come down here to play this poorly? There is no excuse," Aycock coach Kevin Adkins said. "We weren't in the ball game at all tonight. It's the worst game we've played all year.

"There was no heart tonight and I hate to say that."

A turnover off the opening kickoff allowed the Spartans to seize control early. They dominated the possession game, switched fields to spread the Golden Falcon defense and found open spaces for shots on goal.

Smithfield-Selma misfired on its first two chances, but made the third one count. Junior forward Kyle Carpenter, the Spartans' second-leading scorer, dribbled past four Aycock defenders and got into a one-on-one situation with keeper Kyle Bunn.

Bunn edged off his line and guarded the near post, which gave Carpenter a wide-open shot to the far post. He easily tucked it into lower right corner for a 1-0 advantage less than five minutes into the opening half.

"The first goal set the tone," Adkins admitted.

It was Carpenter's 12th goal of the season.

Trying to raise its energy level with physical play, Aycock failed to consistently move the ball from the midfield. The Spartans intercepted numerous passes and easily organized attacks off its defensive pressure.

Eusebio Montoya, a senior striker, punched in the Spartans' second goal. Freshman forward Victor Blanco dribbled into the box and rifled a shot that deflected off Bunn. The ball bounced to Montoya's right foot, who finished off the play for a two-goal margin.

Montoya, an all-state pick last fall, later added a second-half goal and assist to give him 33 goals and 24 assists for the season.

Smithfield-Selma, the Big Eight South runner-up, added a third goal in the 35th minute. The Spartans kept possession inside the 18 and kept working it around to catch the Golden Falcons in a mis-match defensively.

Junior forward Josh Pritt served a rocket from the right side and sophomore midfielder Angel Quevado headed it into goal.

"We were playing the physical game, but not the passing game (early) that you saw more of in the second half," Spartans coach Chris Embler said. "As the goals came, it opened things up and took pressure off the defense. We tried to be a little more creative.

"Defensively we did a pretty good limiting their serious threats."

The Spartans yielded one shot on goal and allowed the Golden Falcons to cross midfield just twice in the second half. Bunn and fellow keeper Phillip Quinn combined for 15 saves against the Spartans, who took 40 shots on goal.

It was the final game for four Aycock seniors -- Quinn, Chris Steed, Chris Mullins and Daniel Fairchild. Adkins expects to return 19 players next year, including sophomore Garrett Davis, who broke the single-season school record with 38 goals.

2004 N.C. High School

Athletic Association Class 3-A

Boys Soccer Playoffs

(at Smithfield-Selma HS)

C.B. Aycock 0 0 -- 0

Smithfield-Selma 3 8 -- 11

First half

SSS -- Carpenter (Baker assist), 4:56

SSS -- Montoya (Blanco assist), 18:17

SSS -- Quevado (Pritt assist), 34:29

Second half

SSS -- Solis (Montoya assist), 45:44

SSS -- Bradley (Wood assist), 46:22

SSS -- Armstrong (Montoya assist), 59:08

SSS -- Montoya (Jeffreys assist), 62:41

SSS -- Baker (unassisted), 64:58

SSS -- Williams (unassisted), 66:57

SSS -- Own goal, 73:10

SSS -- Jeffreys (Beamon assist), 77:47

SSS C.B. Aycock

40 Shots on goal 1

9 Corner kicks 3

1 Offsides 1

10 Fouls 6

Saves -- Smithfield-Selma -- Urbina 1. C.B. Aycock -- Bunn 11, Quinn 5.