CBA's Zacharzuk records first-ever hat trick in varsity career

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 19, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Goldsboro pushed the ball down the line, disrupted Charles B. Aycock's passing attack and built a two-goal lead by halftime Thursday afternoon.

The Golden Falcons answered with a dominating second half.

A slight tactical change sparked five-goal explosion and capped a come-from-behind 6-3 victory at Cougar Stadium.

Zach Zacharzuk logged his first-ever natural hat trick (three straight goals) during his varsity career, and senior Bobby Hampton provided two goals. Aycock had five assists as a team.

"I was playing midfield and Zach was playing sweeper for the most part, he went to forward halfway through the first half and Dallen (Edwards) went up more," Hampton said. "We tried to work it over the top with through balls, use our speed and put pressure on the goalie. It happened to work out."

Down 3-1, the Golden Falcons closed to within 3-2 on Zacharzuk's goal-scoring header off of Hampton's throw-in from the right sideline. Zacharzuk slipped behind a Goldsboro defender slipped it inside the earn post.

Less than four minutes later, Zacharzuk banged home the equalizer off of Edwards' assist to complete his hat trick. The play started when second-string keeper Joey Hampton saved a point-blank shot, and threw the ball to Edwards. He took advantage of open space and dribbled the ball upfield.

"The balls were great from the midfield, my touch was good and I just had good shots," said Zacharzuk, who filled in for leading scorer Chris Grieve, who missed the game due to family reasons.

"We played must better team-wise (in the second half), passed the ball better and talked more. This was my first time playing striker."

Hampton scored the game-winning goal in the 68th minute on Juninho Sanchez's assist.

"It was just a lucky shot, in the right spot," Hampton said. "(Coach) Byron (Adkins) told me to be the trash and when I can get it, score. It worked out perfectly."

Edwards pushed the advantage to 5-3 in the 73rd on a pass from Leo Carcomo. Hampton capped the scoring in the 79th minute on an unassisted goal that caught McAlduff off guard.

Aycock owned advantages in shots (21-6) and corner kicks (8-2). Golden Falcon keepers Hampton Tilghman and Hampton combined for five saves.

McAlduff replaced Jon Stevens, who suffered a first-half shoulder injury, and stopped four shots.

Goldsboro (2-6-0) controlled the tempo in the opening half and twice built two-goal advantages. McAlduff punched in the game's first goal in the 13th minute. Teammate Jacob Seate delivered goals in the 21st and 39th minutes -- the second shot curling past Tilghman at the near post.

"I struck them well," Seate said. "We just couldn't get it together in the second half. We weren't playing well, weren't getting the shots off which makes it hard to score.

"It was a little bit pressure (from Aycock), but we dipped down in our play by not possessing the ball and we had worse touches."