CBA shocked in opening round

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 30, 2008 1:46 PM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Alex Rodriguez couldn't move.

The Charles B. Aycock senior forward sat on the field frozen in the reality that his high school soccer career was over and the dreams of a state championship were shattered on one nightmarish evening.

The No. 9-ranked Golden Falcons held a 19-3 shots-on-goal advantage over West Brunswick, but couldn't convert when it counted in a 2-1 loss in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs at Hardy Talton Stadium on Wednesday evening.

John Mendoza's free kick clanged off the cross bar and Christian Iwankiw was there to clean up the rebound in the 79th minute for the game winner.

"We feel like we come from the best conference in the East," said Trojans head coach Tripp Smith. "We wanted this, we wanted to be here. Our seniors would not let us lose."

C.B. Aycock (19-2 overall) had numerous opportunities to not only take the lead in the second half but to tack on to that lead as well.

Thomas Oliver's shot sailed just over the goal in the 62nd minute. Rodriguez's shot in the 64th minute also missed high. The Golden Falcons also failed to convert on six corner kicks in the final 40 minutes.

West Brunswick (10-12) benefited from a phantom offsides call that was whistled against Aycock and the Trojans got away with an apparent handball in the 18-yard box that would have resulted in a penalty kick.

"When you have six breakaways and don't score this is what happens," said Golden Falcons co-head coach Byron Adkins. "Our boys stayed focused and we just didn't score. I told the boys at halftime if we don't score we will lose this game and we did."

David Burke received a goal-scoring pass from Gavin Forrest and dribbled past the West Brunswick defense before beating keeper West Brunswick keeper Logan Tripp less than a minute into the ballgame.

The Trojans, who lost 10 straight games in the difficult Mideastern 3-A/4-A Conference earlier this season, answered in the fourth minute. Gil Gonzalez settled a rebound off Aycock keeper Brandon Davis and slipped in the equalizer. Davis finished with three saves and Tripp ended the evening with eight.

Tripp made a pair of point-blank saves on Oliver in the first half, and Oliver also had a blast fly just over the crossbar.

The loss ended Aycock's season, the illustrious career of Rodriguez and Adkins' tenure on the sidelines in Pikeville. The son of fellow co-head coach Kevin Adkins announced that he will be coaching at South Granville High School next season.

"This is way tough," said Adkins. "We were 19-1 and I told our boys this would be our hard game, but I didn't think we would lose tonight but we did.

"Alex is a great kid and it's been four years of sheer joy watching him play. To see him play and to be a part of what he's done I'm blessed."