3A soccer playoffs: Aycock advances past 1st round for 1st time since 2007

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 5, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock goalie Skylar Landers never had time to relax between the pipes Wednesday evening.

Not even when his teammates built a 3-0 halftime lead.

"No sir (not relaxed), was on my toes the while time," Landers said. "You've got to keep on your toes, be ready for every shot and you can't put your head down when someone scores."

Landers never did.

In his first-ever playoff appearance, the freshman notched 12 saves and the Golden Falcons ended eight years of postseason frustration with a 3-1 victory over West Carteret at Hardy Talton Stadium. It was CBA's first playoff win since 2007.

"Wow," Landers said about the playoff drought.

Seventh-seeded Aycock (17-4-2 overall) returns home Saturday to face 25th-seeded Richlands, which upset perennial powerhouse White Oak on Tuesday. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

At one point, the Golden Falcons coaching staff charted six freshmen on the field. Despite their nervousness of playing on a larger stage, they maintained their composure and didn't panic when the 26th-seeded Patriots (10-8-3) constantly intercepted CBA passes and generated counter attacks on goal.

West Carteret distributed the ball to the midfield, stretched the Golden Falcons' defense and created opportunities on goal. Landers turned back three free kicks, including one that occurred after a controversial obstruction call just outside the 18-yard box.

"I set the wall a little to the left or to the side so I could see the ball and guard the whole goal," Landers said.

Aycock struck quickly in the first minute.

Zach Zacharzuk threw a long ball into the box and "G" Sanchez finished the play with a one-touch strike that caught WC keeper Brian Carrillo napping at the near post.

Barely 2 1/2 minutes later, Sanchez gathered a loose ball and pushed forward to Chris Grieve. The senior tri-captain out-raced his defender into the box and put Aycock ahead 2-0 with a right-footed laser inside the near post.

"It was a good start," CBA coach Byron Adkins said.

West Carteret continued to pressure the goal, but Landers made stops on a corner kick in the 36th minute, and a back post shot in the 38th.

Seconds later, David McIver converted a penalty kick after Grieve drew a hard foul inside the box. Aycock led 3-0 at the break.

The second half resembled the first, only play became more physical. Constant stoppages disrupted the flow, but the Golden Falcons kept their poise.

"We managed to keep our shape, that was a big thing for us," Adkins said. "Keep our composure and not panic, and when the chances came, we took them. I think that was the difference tonight."

The Patriots owned a 19-7 advantage in shots and denied Landers' shutout bid with a successful PK conversion in the 65th minute.