Rosewood ousts Spring Creek from 1A soccer playoffs

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on May 19, 2016 1:48 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Rosewood avenged two regular-season losses to county and Carolina 1-A Conference foe Spring Creek in dominating fashion Wednesday evening.

Lexi Mercer and Payton Lane accounted for four points apiece during the Eagles' 4-0 triumph during third-round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A girls' soccer playoffs. The 10th-seeded Eagles (15-6-0 overall) continue play Saturday at Whiteville.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

"The girls played very well throughout and carried out the gameplan perfectly," first-year RHS head coach Kevin Martin said. "They were well organized, worked hard and believed they could beat a very good Spring Creek team."

Rosewood notched the eventual game-winning goal in the opening half.

Lane delivered a corner kick into the box that Rebecca Fitzmaurice headed into the net. It was Fitzmaurice's ninth goal of the season and the first of two assists from Lane during the 80-minute affair.

The Eagles erupted with three second-half goals.

Mercer and Lane each converted a penalty kick. Mercer polished off the road upset with a goal off Lane's pass through the Spring Creek defense. Mercer has a team- and county-leading 40 goals this season.

"We had some great individual performances, but it was the way they played as a team which was so impressive," Martin said. "Saturday's going to be another very tough game, but if we play like we did tonight, we can progress (further)."

Spring Creek ended the year 17-3-1 overall.