ECC tourney kings again
By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on October 28, 2010 3:54 PM
FOUR OAKS -- Six in a row.
Michael Fearney supplied the game-winning goal in the 60th minute, and Charles B. Aycock turned back South Johnston 2-1 in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference boys' soccer championship game Wednesday evening.
The second-seeded Golden Falcons (16-6-2 overall) claimed their unprecedented sixth consecutive ECC tournament crown.
"That's probably a record that won't be broken for quite some time," said Aycock head coach Kevin Adkins.
Aycock broke the scoreless tie in the 24th minute.
The top-seeded Trojans committed a costly foul inside the penalty area and Tyler Lynch converted the penalty kick to make it 1-0. It was Lynch's 10th goal of the season.
The score remained the same through halftime before Fearney punched in his eighth goal of the season. Ronnie Person threw the ball in and it sailed over the defender's head to Fearney, who tapped the ball with his chest and it dropped into the net.
"Wow, it was wide open," said Adkins.
The second-seeded Golden Falcons, winners of 13 straight ECC tournament games since 2005, controlled the tempo the remainder of the half.
South Johnston avoided the shutout with a goal in the 71st minute.
Keeper Brandon Davis logged five saves between the pipes. Aycock has allowed 24 goals in 22 contests this season.
"The defense played up to par once again thanks to Daniel (Ohnmeiss), Travis (Musselman), Aaron Johnson and Cade (Ivy) in the back," said Adkins. "I thought we had the better play at the start of the second half. After we scored our second goal, we took control of the game.
"They had a little spurt, we shut them down and went to play our game. It was end-to-end all night. The game was a nail biter all the way through."
The Trojans owned a 12-8 edge in shots.
"The midfield stepped up and played quite well, too, with Chase Thompson, Lynch, Kyle Powell and Fearney," said Adkins. "We put (Billy) Leggett and (Trey) Millard up front, so we were able to attack more from the midfield."
Aycock returns home Tuesday to face West Brunswick in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Hardy Talton Stadium.