Rosewood offense explodes late in 1st half

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on August 27, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Rosewood soccer head coach Eddie Maldonado was nervous for most of Tuesday evening after watching his team warm up.

His worries got worse when junior midfielder Marquail Almontaser scored for in the first three minutes.

"That always makes you nervous because you never know what they're going to do after they get that goal," Maldonado said.

But the Eagles kept their poise in a 4-1 win over Goldsboro at Cougar Stadium. The Eagles improved to 2-1-0 overall less than a day after avenging a season-opening defeat against North Lenoir.

Almontaser's goal came on a cross from Daniel Aburto that he headed in to the right corner of the goal with ease.

The sides went back and forth with neither one being able to gain control of the midfield for the next 25 minutes.

In the 30th minute sophomore, Ruben Quiroz drew a foul in the box and David McAlduff converted the penalty kick.

After the Cougars (1-2-0) tied the match, Rosewood capitalized on a flurry of chances and collected three goals in the final six minutes of the half. Ethan Chapin, who recently moved to striker after playing defender for most of his career, scored a goal after taking the ball off a Goldsboro defender's foot and dribbling free on a breakaway toward the net.

Aburto added a PK and Josh Drew capitalized on a corner from Almontaser.

"We've had games where we've had a lot of chances and haven't been able to finish them," Maldonado said. "Tonight we were just able to capitalize on a few of them toward the end of the half. I don't know what it was."

Goldsboro's offense sputtered for much of the game. The midfielders struggled to possess the ball and tried to force passes though the middle of the Eagles' defense rather than play the ball wide and create from outside the box.

"They're just not seeing the plays wide," Cougars' assistant coach Rocky McAlduff said. "Either they're not seeing it or they're just not trusting it. Either way eventually we have to get them to get the ball out wide and stretch the field."

Goalkeeper John Oliver III had 10 saves for the Cougars. He nearly stopped Aburto's penalty kick after guessing correctly and getting a hand on the ball. But the ball trickled across the goal line.

Both teams will meet again next Tuesday at Rosewood.

"They're going to come out ready," Maldonado said. "We have to get some things fixed in our midfield, but I think we're putting it together."