BOYS' SOCCER: Conley seizes 1-0 OT win over C.B. Aycock

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on September 21, 2016 9:59 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- October 13, 2016. Clear your calendar.

Per the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference futbol slate, that is when Charles B. Aycock and D.H. Conley will stage the follow-up to Tuesday evening's emotionally charged, at times envelope-pushing, 1-0 Viking conquest at Hardy-Talton Stadium.

Contested for 100 minutes under threatening skies, volume one featured a physical shadow boxing affair, with each club desperately attempting to scrawl its signature brand of play on the pitch -- and for that matter, each other.

Conley (5-1-2 overall, 1-0-1 ECC) worked the opening half with frenetic pace, playing primarily along the touchline and seeking entry into the penalty area. Led by the duo of Jaxon Wiley and Reyes Monroy -- who have combined for nine goals and 21 points on the season -- the Viking advance was relentless.

Aycock, however, proved inhospitable.

Bouyed by a solid performance along its back line, the Golden Falcons (4-5-0, 0-2-0) marked up consistently, tackled well and stifled Conley crossing attempts in front of goal.

The effort, which included shifting senior Zach Zacharzuk to the center-mid position, was lauded by head coach Cory Worrell.

"It's been working," the coach said. "It was a change that we thought we might be able to do."

At half, the scoreboard burned with zeros.

The second stanza featured more of the same, but as time dwindled, so too did each club's patience with each other.

A Conley foul in the 51st minute -- one of six committed by both teams in the half -- was trumped by Zacharzuk's yellow card in the 54th. The subsequent Viking free kick, which ultimately morphed into a corner, was corralled in front of goal by Aycock's Skylar Landers.

The save, part of a 12-stop campaign for the senior, kept the sheet clean and the tension palpable -- until matters finally broke in the 85th minute.

Conley, which exacted its extra-time strategy of quickly exchanging field position, loitered in the penalty area long enough to take the lead on a deftly played deflection by sophomore Liam Collier.

The remainder of extra time was spent in role reversal, with Aycock dialing up the pace in an attempt to tie the score. Conley offered no dice, however, clearing each powder blue touch with efficiency and managing possession against a marching clock.

"It's a free kick in the box," Worrell said of the game-winner. "There's always going to be a little shuffle... there is in every game. Give credit to Conley -- but we gave them a fight tonight."

And the second installment is just 22 days away.