Spring Creek turns back Ayden-Grifton

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 2, 2012 1:49 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek's fast-paced offense met Ayden-Grifton's slow-down defense in a contrast of styles on the soccer pitch on Monday night.

The Gators got the better end of the matchup and scored a 2-1 victory to remain unbeaten in Carolina 1-A Conference play.

Ayden-Grifton made its intentions clear early in the game by playing just two forwards and moving its midfield into a defensive alignment. It appeared as though the Chargers were playing for a scoreless tie.

The strategy worked in the first half as the teams combined for just five shots and zero goals.

"Ayden-Grifton is a very good defensive team and we had to find a way around that," Spring Creek forward Brayan Lopez said. "Our coaches told us to move the ball down the sidelines and wait to play the ball in front and that worked much better in the second half."

Spring Creek (7-1-3 overall, 2-0-0 CC) got on the scoreboard in the 44th minute when Giovani Avila put a crossing pass in front of the net and Otto Binar directed a header past the Chargers' keeper for a 1-0 lead.

The Gators added an insurance goal in the 76th minute when David Vega made a long run and fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box. The ball rebounded to the foot of Lopez who fired a shot into the net.

"I was fortunate that the ball just kind of found me on that play," Lopez said. "I was in position and make the shot. It turned out to be a big goal."

Ayden-Grifton (6-1-1, 0-1-1) finally pushed forward and created a scoring chance in the 79th minute when James Dykes collected a rebound and buried a short shot to make the score 2-1. The Chargers made one last run in the final seconds, but Enoc Mosca's final shot deflected off of Spring Creek keeper Victor Ortiz and hit the right post as the referee blew the final whistle.

"We let down a little bit and they made a couple of runs," Lopez said. "Victor made a big save there and the ball didn't go in."

Spring Creek travels to Princeton on Wednesday.