Molloy scores pair of goals, Warriors blank Golden Falcons

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on April 3, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

The fan standing outside the gate at Eastern Wayne's soccer game against Charles B. Aycock summed it up best.

"When these two teams play," he said, "you can throw their records out the window."

In another chapter of the great county rivalry, Eastern Wayne dominated offensively from beginning to end in a 3-0 victory over C.B. Aycock during their Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game.

Both teams started in a conservative manner and kept the ball in the midfield for the first 10 minutes. Neither had a quality attempt on goal, but the Warriors sent several long balls over the heads of Aycock's defenders.

Eastern Wayne got on the board in the 24th minute. Claire Molloy fielded a corner kick at her feet and put an easy one past the Aycock keeper for her first of two goals on the game.

The Warriors had a few more chances -- especially off of set pieces -- to extend the lead throughout the first half. They couldn't find the back of the net and led 1-0 at halftime.

"The difference for us was that in the first half, we couldn't really get a handle on Aycock," EW head coach Jorg Wagner said. "They played physical in the midfield and a lot of balls dropped in front of where our midfielders should be."

At halftime, Wagner told his midfielders to stay farther up and the moved paid off. The Warriors connected on the through balls and put up two goals within five minutes that all but sealed the outcome.

First, in the 49th minute, team captain Megan Mozingo dribbled through multiple defenders and found Brennan Dove inside the 5-yard box for an easy tap-in. Molloy scored her second goal five minutes later with a close-range shot.

Wagner expects that the rivalry had something to do with his team's slow start.

"Some people might think that Aycock is down this year, but this is the local derby," he said. "This is what everybody in the city plays for, so they're always motivated. We also had a lot of freshman playing, so nerves might have played a bit of a role."

For those freshman, the 3-0 win was their first taste of a rivalry that's been historically close. Wagner mentioned that he could not think of a game in over 20 years coaching that was separated by more than two goals.

Both Wagner and Mozingo came away from the game impressed with the way that the freshman starters handled the moment.

"We have a lot of freshman, so this is their first rivalry game," Mozingo said. "But actually, I think our freshman stepped up. I just think it took a minute to get into the game."

The win was especially sweet for the seniors, like Mozingo.

"Everybody says that this game is for bragging rights," she said.