Chargers outlast Cougars on pitch

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 3, 2009 1:46 PM

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Shots were fired from every angle.

Most attempts either sailed wide, hit the post or floated over the crossbar.

Just four hit the mark.

Tyson Pearson supplied two goals as state-ranked Wayne Country Day claimed a frustrating, 4-1 non-conference victory over Goldsboro High on an overcast, breezy Wednesday afternoon. The Chargers equaled last season's win output (6) and remained unbeaten at home in 2009.

"A lot of shanked shots," said WCDS coach Michael Taylor of the 51 blasts rifled toward the net. "The first 10 minutes, I thought we did an excellent job passing ... moving the ball around. But I feel like our guys got a little frustrated at times."

Pearson logged an unassisted goal in the fifth minute.

The Chargers (6-1-0) didn't connect again until early in the second half.

Goldsboro (0-4-0) clogged the middle and Wayne Country Day refused to consistently use the width of the field to spread the defense. Taylor's team tried to take shots on goal against either eight, nine or 10 Cougar defenders within a 10-yard area outside the box.

"Generally, we don't stack up our defense like that," said Goldsboro coach Tyler Gatlin. "We couldn't get anything going offensively. They kept pounding and pounding us, so we had to hang back and weather the storm. Our defense really stepped it up today."

Cougars keeper Matt Davis stretched to block numerous shots, made a couple of glove saves and scooped up other balls to keep the Chargers off the board. The second-year starter finished with 20 saves during the 80-minute affair.

"Matt did an amazing job," said Gatlin.

Pearson tallied Wayne Country Day's second goal off Blake Marchese's assist in the 47th minute. Cameron Ford and Ryan Jackson each tallied a goal later in the second half. Ford and Cody Neal also collected one assist apiece.

The Cougars denied the Chargers' shutout bid in stoppage time.

Nelbin Velasquez was awarded a direct kick off a foul and lofted the ball into the box for Bryan Johnson. A sophomore, Johnson found a seam between WCDS keeper Tucker Pearson and the near post, and tucked it away for a goal.

It was just Goldsboro's second goal of the season.

"We hadn't really practiced anything like that, so they did a great job," said a surprised Gatlin. "It was beautiful."

Ranked No. 13 in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association private schools' poll and No. 1 among the state's 1-A independent schools, Wayne Country Day improved to 8-3-1 against county opposition since 2006.

The Chargers play seven of their next contests on the road beginning next Wednesday at Goldsboro. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.