Warriors drop Trojans soccer
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 16, 2010 11:18 PM
After a disappointing start to the week, Eastern Wayne found a way to end it with a bang.
Ryan Allison scored twice and the Warriors held off South Johnston for a 4-2 Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference win on Saturday afternoon in New Hope.
Eastern Wayne looked sluggish in a 5-0 home loss to Southern Wayne on Monday. After Wednesday's win at Charles B. Aycock, the Warriors have won consecutive games for the first time this season.
"This win was very important for us," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jorg Wagner. "We've beaten two teams that were ahead of us in the standings. We've been alternating wins and losses most of the season. Southern Wayne made us understand that with a mediocre effort you cannot survive in this conference."
The Warriors struggled to connect passes with regularity early on in the first half. Rafael Guerra's shot in the 12th minute was saved by Trojans' keeper Peyton Lee. Eastern Wayne failed to convert a corner kick in the 13th minute.
Kyle Sasser's free kick in the 16th minute sailed just high. The Warriors couldn't capitalize on two corner kicks in the 17th minute. Sasser's free kick from the top of the 18-yard box found the top right corner of the net to give Eastern Wayne a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.
South Johnston tied the game on Brean Laya's goal off a corner kick in the 27th minute.
Allison's goal on a rebound of Guerra's shot in the 29th minute put the Warriors in front 2-1.
"It just takes us a little while to warm up," said Wagner. "We're like a diesel engine sometimes. We're going, and going and going and nothing works for a little while. Once we get into the flow of the way we like to play, we're difficult to slow down sometimes."
Joseph Cheaney's header off Guerra's corner kick in the 47th minute extended the lead to 3-1. The Trojans pulled to within 3-2 on Derek Brewington's header in the 70th minute.
"Playing three games is a week is very, very tough," said Wagner. "It's easier for a team that is used to playing a long ball like South Johnston to put pressure on a team that is used to moving off the ball and playing a possession type of game. I think we ran out of gas."
Allison's goal off Sasser's assist in the 80th minute put the game out of reach. Eastern Wayne finished with a 16-14 edge in shots on goal. South Johnston held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Warriors (6-7, 6-4 ECC) entertain Triton at 6 p.m. on Monday.