Gators' David Vega signs with Barton College

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 15, 2014 11:12 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Quality players have worn the Spring Creek uniform and succeeded on the soccer pitch, but none have advanced to the next level.

Until now.

David Vega will continue his collegiate career at Division II Barton. The senior center defense midfielder signed with the Bulldogs despite consideration from UNC Wilmington, Campbell and Cape Fear Community College.

Uncertain of his future, Vega talked with coach Tony Vardaro during the Powerade State Games last summer. Vardaro mentioned BC head coach Matt Akins, who guided his team to nine wins and a middle-of-the-pack finish in Conference Carolinas play last fall.

Vega attended a camp, spoke with the coaching staff and seemed at ease once he packed his gear and headed home.

"It felt comfortable ... the kind of environment I wanted to be around," Vega said. "I felt like it was a good place to start playing and I feel like I'll fit in fairly well."

Indeed.

Vardaro described Vega's ability to play in the midfield and told Akins he had good vision while working with the ball. Barton's two center defense midfielders graduate in 2015, which could Vega an opportunity to step in and produce for the Division II program.

Barton last won a regular-season conference title in 1998.

"David is a technical center midfield with a great touch and good vision on the field," Akins said. "From what I have seen out of him, he is a quiet leader that works hard and has the potential to make a splash at the college level in a number of ways.

"I really look forward to coaching him as he understands the game and seems eager to enter the college ranks and continue his soccer career at a high level."

Spring Creek's gameplan most of last fall was to utilize its speed at the forward positions. With Vega in the middle as the main ball distributor, he constantly fed passes to his teammates, who created scoring opportunities on goal.

A total of 15 players combined for 88 goals and 239 points. The Gators scored four or more goals in 12 games and were held to a single goal on just two occasions.

A four-year varsity starter, Vega provided 13 goals and 14 assists during his senior campaign. The Gators logged a 14-4-1 worksheet and endured a season-ending loss to Wallace-Rose Hill, which eventually won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state crown.

"I'm very fortunate to have somebody like David," said Salter, who has a 27-7-4 career record in two varsity seasons.

"He's a good leader out there on the field. He leads by example, puts in the hard work. I actually had a chance to coach him when I was the middle school coach both his seventh- and eighth-grade year. You could see it then, both the quality of play and the leadership that he had even as a young kid."

Spring Creek posted 39 victories and won three Carolina 1-A Conference championships with Vega on the field. He finished with 20-plus goals for his career and collected a career-best seven points -- three goals, one assist -- in a match against Neuse Charter in 2013.

Salter thinks Vega can continue that success at Barton.

The articulate teenager has certainly helped raise the standard of excellence, both athletically and academically, at the small rural school.

"It's definitely a good feeling to know that some of these kids are taking it seriously and going on to the next level," Salter said. "For David, I'm very happy for him ... excited. I keep checking to see when they (Barton) are going to post the schedule so I can go watch him play.

"It's definitely good, especially for us, to get the visibility to know that we're producing quality athletes and students."