Southern Wayne goalie Joey Segura, bottom, gets some defensive help from teammate Skervenson Aphael (9) during second-half action against James Kenan Wednesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Osbaldo Avila (4) scores the game-tying goal on a second-half header against James Kenan Wednesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jesus Giron Castillo, back, works against James Kenan’s Bryan Gonzalez (8) and Peter Omega (21) during second-half play in Dudley. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne goalie Joey Segura, back, makes a diving save against James Kenan’s Jeff Nicolas during their non-conference, season-opening match Wednesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s duo of Jesus Giron Castillo (12) and Osbaldo Avila (4) collide on a slide tackle to knock the ball away from a James Kenan player Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan players plead their case to midfield referee Adam Livengood, left, who explains the penalty kick ruling during first-half action against Southern Wayne. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — A second-chance penalty-kick attempt and superb second-half defense helped Southern Wayne exorcise a pesky demon on the soccer pitch Wednesday afternoon.
Danilo Morales’ decisive PK conversion around the 73rd minute capped the Saints’ come-from-behind, 4-3 conquest of perennial 2A powerhouse James Kenan. The Tigers held a 6-0-2 advantage in the series since 2017.
“A good win over a well-coached team,” SW head coach Luis Ramirez said.
The Tigers controlled the first 40 minutes.They consistently intercepted passes in open spaces and created a counter attack that pressured SW keeper Joey Segura early. The junior stopped two shots and breathed sighs of relief after a couple of attempts sailed over the crossbar.
Kenan finally broke through around the 15th minute.Francisco Roldan worked around a defender and ripped a goal-scoring strike past Segura.
“We looked kind of confused in the first half, were all over the place,” Ramirez said. “Overall, we were moving the ball well, they were composed, but the main thing is they were giving those shots outside of the box. We told them those shots have to be contested, we can’t give them easy shots.”
SW sophomore Daniel Velasquez notched the equalizer around the 23rd minute.
The Tigers answered with back-to-back goals.
The lone returning starter from last season, Peter Omega connected on a shot that snuck inside the right post. Teammate Robert Ordonez converted a free kick from near midfield that sailed over Segura’s out-stretched gloves into the net.
Kenan led 3-1 at halftime.
“I told them [at halftime] we’ve got to be composed, talk to each other,” Ramirez said. “Our center back, right back and center back were just all over the place and that changed in the second half. You could see how good our defensive shape changed. We had some really good saves from our keeper.”
Segura (eight saves) used a cleat save and two diving glove stops to keep the Tigers (0-1-0 overall) out of the net. He also received help from his sweeper, who made two sterling defensive clears with Segura out of position.
Morales’ first PK closed the gap to 3-2.
Osbaldo Avila’s header off a rebound shot on a corner kick leveled the contest at 3-3 as the clock ticked down inside 12 minutes.
With approximately seven minutes, the Saints drew another PK.
Miguel Compuzano’s shot clanged off the left post. James Kenan keeper David Kebert celebration turned into despair, however. He committed a violation by leaving his line before the ball was struck.
Ramirez called on Morales. He easily tucked the ball into the net.
“I’ve been working with him [Campuzano] for two years and know how he works,” Ramirez said. “It was a tactical thing because the keeper already head an idea of where he was going to go. He went left the first time. The keeper probably thought he would switch up and go to his right.”
Kenan kept the Saints’ defensive backfield busy in the final stages of the game, but couldn’t notch the game-tying goal.
“We didn’t match up with them real well in the second half,” Kenan head coach Mitchell Quinn said. “They [SW] moved the ball well in the second half, am impressed with them. We’ve got to find the right 11 to play on the field, that’s the biggest thing. We had several opportunities.
“The goalie was out of the net and we couldn’t find the back of the net, so that’s our fault. We’ve just got to find a way to finish.”
Southern Wayne (1-0-0) entertains county rival Goldsboro (1-0-0) today at 6 p.m.
