BOYS' SOCCER: Wayne Country Day ready to defend state title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 21, 2016 9:57 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

The transition period began last season.

Aware he'd lose a large senior class to graduation, Wayne Country Day head boys' soccer coach Steve Ellis gave younger players considerable time on the pitch.

Youth still fills the Chargers' roster. But there's more experience than meets the eye in what should have been a rebuilding campaign. Instead, WCDS is in solid position to successfully defend its state title from a year ago.

The newly-expanded N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs kick off at four different sites statewide today. The top-seeded Chargers (16-2-0 overall) play a quarterfinal-round match Saturday at 3 p.m. against the winner of today's game between eighth-seeded Statesville Christian (7-5-2) and ninth-seeded Ahoskie Ridgecroft (13-2-2).

The other three sites are Greenfield, Hickory Christian and Cape Fear Christian. Semifinal-round play is next Tuesday. The state final is Oct. 29 at Greenfield.

"We've had a good season so far," Ellis said. "We lost of players through graduation, but managed to balance it by blending in JV players for the past few seasons each season with the varsity squad."

Luck wasn't an early adversary for WCDS, though.

The Chargers lost senior Hayes Gerrard to a season-ending ACL injury. Ben Cohen missed several matches due to illness. Gerrard's absence created a void between the pipes that was eventually filled by Mitch Turnage.

After a season-opening shutout loss to Cape Fear Academy in the second annual Charger Cup, Wayne Country Day bounced back with consecutive victories over Hickory Christian and Parrott Academy. The Chargers eventually reeled off seven straight wins.

"With Hayes being hurt, we had to move some people around but the lads stuck by what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play and really protected not only the keeper, but each other as we settled into our system," Ellis said.

Greenfield edged WCDS 4-3 in a penalty-kick shootout on Oct. 1.

The Chargers responded with a nine-game win streak. Numerous playmakers on offense who excelled in open spaces and an experienced defense, which posted a total of 11 shutouts, led to a perfect formula for WCDS.

WCDS allowed just two goals in its final nine matches -- a stretch of 720 minutes of play.

Midfield general Noah Adkins emerged as the CPIC player-of-the-year after the senior posted 76 points -- 30 goals, 16 assists -- during regular-season play. Nehemiya Shaw knocked in 20 goals, followed by Hunter Bryson (13), Cohen (12) and Marquise Newell (9).

The Chargers outscored the opposition 110-15 in 18 outings. They claimed a share of their third consecutive Coastal Plains Independent Conference regular-season title.

Ellis lauded his players' attitude, determination and their ability to fight for each other on and off the field, and push each other to perform well every day.

"With everything we've had so far this season in terms of injuries, (a) PK loss to a rival, etc., it's been a case of not how hard you get it (a win), but it's how hard you get hit and keep moving forward," Ellis said.

That's a true champion's mentality.