CHARGER CUP: WCDS dealt 3-0, season-opening defeat

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on August 12, 2016 1:49 PM

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Welcome back.

Wayne Country Day, opening its 2016-2017 boys' soccer schedule and defense of last season's N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state 1-A title, absorbed a 3-0 loss against Cape Fear Academy on Thursday afternoon.

The first-round Charger Cup match was very much a tale in two acts.

The Chargers (0-1-0 overall) opened with aplomb, controlling much of the first half with a physical, speedy effort. Cape Fear, intent on manipulating pace with a litany of big bodies, found its strategy stuck in neutral.

Passing lanes were closed for business.

Balls played toward either boundary were won exclusively by the home whites. The Charger duo of Noah Adkins and Ben Cohen dictated much of the early turf war, spreading Cape Fear and frustrating the Hurricanes with poise, skill and speed.

Thrice in the opening 10 minutes, the Chargers received free kicks.

"The first 25 minutes, we were fully in control," Chargers head coach Steve Ellis said. "They were just trying to hit it long."

Then the 29th minute happened.

A traffic jam in front of the WCDS goal was cleared by Cape Fear's Bennett Dahl, making the score 1-0 and prompting a bit of rattle in the Chargers' cage.

"As soon as we conceded that one, our heads dropped," noted Ellis.

And with emotions sagging, Cape Fear took advantage.

The Hurricanes struck twice more in the next eight minutes, scoring on a header by freshman Jack Sloan in the 32nd and on a blast by Holt Robinson to close the first half.

Cape Fear led 3-nil at the break.

"I thought we got outplayed that first half, especially the first 20 minutes," said Hurricanes' coach Meade McFarlane. "They were all over us. As the game went on, we settled down... got some fortunate touches."

Cape Fear (1-1-1) embarked on and succeeded in piecing together a second half possession effort, passing crisply for the better portion of 30 minutes and dispelling all notion of a Charger rally.

The hosts, frustrated but spirited, simply could not convert legitimate opportunities in its half of the field.

"Nobody's perfect, the best players in the world aren't perfect," Ellis noted. "It's trial-and-error this weekend."

Cape Fear faces Parrott Academy at 3:30 p.m. today. WCDS meets defending Cup champion Hickory Christian. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m.