Chargers top Oakwood in NCISAA 1A soccer playoffs

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 17, 2016 1:48 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Survive and advance.

Wayne Country Day did just that Friday, outlasting a physical Oakwood Academy team, 3-2, on the road to reach quarterfinal-round play of the NCISAA 1-A state playoffs.

"Great result for us tonight, beating a higher seed," noted head coach Steve Ellis, "It was a nice team performance, although we started a little slow."

The Chargers assumed control of the match courtesy of a bizarre, own-goal score during a corner kick in the first half by senior Allison Bailey. Oakwood rallied to square the match in the second, but the deadlock was broken when senior Gianna Democko rifled in an assist from Langley Barnes.

It was quite an afternoon for Barnes, who later scored the match's decisive goal on a penalty kick awarded after Lillian Freeman was taken down in the penalty box by an Oakwood player.

The effort was a tried-and-true team effort -- the type Country Day will need next week versus top-seeded Grace Christian of Sanford.

"Jasmine Jones and Hannah Neal both put in a great performance," Ellis said of his troops, "(but) we have to switch straight on for our next game."

Wayne Country Day is now 8-7-1 on the season. Oakwood finished its campaign with a 12-6-1 mark.