BOYS' SOCCER: Aburto returns, Eagles soar into win column

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on August 24, 2016 1:49 PM

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Welcome back.

Daniel Aburto, formally reunited with his Rosewood futbol mates for the first time this season, played a central role in a variety of formation packages yesterday en route to a clinical, 4-1 non-conference triumph over neighboring county foe Goldsboro.

At times, the Eagles were methodical.

At others, manic.

At all points, they were wrangled by No. 3.

The junior midfielder helped direct a combination of rangy, amoeba-like position blueprints that both confused and frustrated a fit, inspired Goldsboro roster.

"The biggest question was how long do we play him tonight?" Rosewood head coach Eddie Maldonado said.

The answer revealed itself quickly.

Aburto received a corner kick in the eighth minute, gathered the ball on his right foot and fired past Goldsboro's Chandler Patrick for a 1-0 Rosewood advantage. The score broke up the early makings of a possession slugfest, and was a shot in the arm for a team who, at times, has struggled with its identity early this season.

"We knew it wouldn't take long," Maldonado said with a smile.

Just as with Goldsboro's response.

Michael Eovine notched his first goal of the season seven minutes later, gaining control of a loose ball in the box and slipping a dart past Rosewood keeper Tucker Chapin.

In a flash, the affair was tied.

It would remain so until the 38th minute, when Rosewood's hide-and-seek velocity paid dividends in the form of Skyler Price, who rifle-blasted a seed by Patrick.

"They kept the tempo up," Goldsboro head coach Chad Lewis noted. "It bothered us in some areas of the field, for sure. Seemed like they had pace in all 10 field positions."

The Cougars attempted a rally, however.

Following Price's second goal of the match -- deftly played off a Tyler Jordan corner kick in the 52nd minute -- Goldsboro had three distinct opportunities in front of goal.

The blue-and-gold simply couldn't convert.

"We had opportunities, they just weren't on frame," Lewis said.

Rosewood sealed matters in the 74th minute, courtesy of senior Stalen Massengill. The midfielder played a looping touch from freshman Hayden Maldonado, composed his dribble and issued a rope into the corner net.

It was the final note of a concert orchestrated in full by the return of Aburto, who was seemingly everywhere all evening -- whether directly involved or not.

"It's the composure," Maldonado said of his star. "He likes to sit in... behind everybody else, and pick his spots."

Rosewood (1-2-0 overall) travels to Goldsboro (0-2-1) for a rematch on Thursday.