CBA's Strickland, Johnson provide offense against Saints

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on April 28, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- A natural midfielder, Sabrina Johnson may have been in the wrong position all season.

She proved it again Monday evening.

For the second time in less than a week, Johnson scored a hat trick (three goals) and added an assist in Charles B. Aycock's 4-0 victory over Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe Southern Wayne on Monday evening.

Johnson and the rest of CBA's offense got off to a quick start.

Less than a minute into the game, Johnson sent a corner into the box and connected with Ariel Strickland for an easy goal.

The Golden Falcons kept relentless pressure on the Saints for much of the first half. Southern Wayne didn't get the ball past midfield for the first seven minutes of the game.

After her assist, Johnson didn't wait too long to score. She notched her first goal in the 26th minute, when she broke away from Southern Wayne's defense, dribbled around the goalie and finished from five yards out. Johnson scored her second goal a minute later, finishing off her own shot that deflected off of the post.

"I have to have my team get me the ball," she said. "The midfielders are strong, so when they get the ball they can give me the ball. There's no way it happens without the other teammates on field."

Johnson completed her hat trick in the 51st minute.

"She's class all the way around," head coach Byron Adkins said. "I'm glad I have her for one more year. She does the business for us."

Play became chippy in the second half. A tie up between two players turned into a shoving match that resulted in an ejection and the Golden Falcons a yellow card. The Saints received two more yellow cards as the second half progressed.

"It's Southern Wayne-Charles B. Aycock," Adkins said. "It's just one of those cross town rivalries. The girls just know that it's one of those things that happens. We told them 'hey, stay away from it and if it happens just leave it alone.'"

Johnson worked to keep her teammates relaxed.

"We had to stay calm out there," she said. "We were winning 4-0 when the fight started. We had to keep our heads cool and keep playing the way we know how to play."

Aycock (4-9 ECC) swept the regular-season series from Southern Wayne and all but assured itself a spot in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

"To be in the playoffs is good," said Adkins, whose team faces D.H. Conley today. "That's our goal every year - to make the playoffs. It's good for us. It's good for our program and for the girls when we make the playoffs. Good things happen when you make the playoffs."