Southern Wayne soccer fans watch their team claim a 2-0 shutout over county rival Goldsboro on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Skervenson Aphael takes a few sips of water during a first-half hydration break against Goldsboro Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Goldsboro goalie Guymerson Lafortune, right, can’t get a glove on a near-post shot by Southern Wayne’s Luiz Velasquez (not pictured) during first half action. Following the ball is the Saints’ Jesus Guiron Castillo. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Luiz Velasquez, red shirt, tries to break away from several Goldsboro defenders on a first-half free kick Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Danilo Morales, who scored the game’s first goal, traps the ball with his chest while Goldsboro’s Edward Acorn watches from behind. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Osbaldo Avila (4) wins a header against a Goldsboro defender during their non-conference game Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne keeper Joey Segura stops a first-half penalty kick to keep Goldsboro off the board. Segura recorded a clean sheet with seven saves. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Southern Wayne remained perfect against county rival Goldsboro on the soccer pitch,according to recent available records.
Former foes in the now-defunct Mideastern 4A and Big East 3A conferences, the Saints remained unbeaten in six outings against the Cougars after a 2-0, non-conference conquest Thursday evening.
“I feel like we started off a little slow the first 20 minutes, but after that, we started picking up the pace,” SW assistant coach Daniel Benitez said. “Obviously, we had a new spot of rotations from yesterday’s game [against James Kenan]…underclassmen trying to get a feel for the game.
“So, there were new faces on the field tonight, for sure.”
Goldsboro (0-2 overall) received the opening kickoff and quickly pushed the ball upfield. The Saints’ defensive back four stopped the surge just inside the 16-yard box.
SW countered and began to control possession.
The Saints methodically worked the ball around the pitch with one-touch passes that kept the Cougars in chase mode. Benitez watched his team constantly pepper Goldsboro goalie Guymerson Lafortune, who made numerous athletic saves to keep the game scoreless.
“Give him props,” Benitez said. “We already knew first-hand that he was top notch. Anything [close] we knew he was going to grab it and he did well.”
The energetic and vocal Lafortune logged eight saves between the pipes.
However, the Saints did scratch twice.
Danilo Morales provided an unassisted goal.
Teammate Daniel Velasquez converted a cross from senior Luis Velasquez that barely cleared the near post. Lafortune got caught up in some congestion in front of the net and couldn’t get to the ball in time.
Velasquez’s goal came after SW goalie Joey Segura stopped a penalty-kick attempt by the Cougars. Segura ended the 80-minute affair with seven saves.
“That was a game changer,” Benitez said. “If they had scored, it obviously would have changed the momentum of the game. Joey did his thing today.
“[Velasquez’s goal] was beautifully played and crucial to keep the momentum going. Most of the guys that started off playing yesterday [in the heat] were running on fumes, so it was crucial to get on the scoreboard early.”
Lafortune donned a white top and played midfield in the second half.
Teammate Braeden McPhail took over in the net. He made two finger-tip saves and received some assistance from his defense on numerous corner-kick attempts in the final 20 minutes.
McPhail logged six saves overall.
Southern Wayne (2-0-0) travels to Goldsboro next Tuesday.
