Spring Creek’s Yoban Aron Perez-Mazariegos, left, knocks the ball away from a Goldsboro defender in their Neuse Six 2A battle Tuesday evening.
Spring Creek’s Jeheili Velasquez-Sanchez battles for a header between Goldsboro defenders Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek’s Yoban Aron Perez-Mazariegos looks for an open teammate on a throw-in against Goldsboro on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Goldsboro’s Layne Britton, left, challenges Spring Creek’s Jeheili Velasquez-Sanchez for control of the ball Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek’s Emanuel Rangel, left, works against a Goldsboro defender during first-half action of their Neuse Six 2A game at “The Swamp” on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek senior Ozias Miteu, right, keeps possession against a Goldsboro defender just moments after kickoff on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek secured its third consecutive Neuse Six 2A regular-season conference title and 11th overall in program history with an 8-0 triumph over Goldsboro on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Spring Creek silenced its critics on the soccer pitch Wednesday evening.
Despite a brutal non-conference schedule that created frustration, self doubt and growing pains, the Gators remain where they belong – atop the Neuse Six 2A mountain.
Ozias “Z” Miteu provided a hat trick (three goals) and three assists during a 7-0 conquest of Goldsboro at “The Swamp.” Spring Creek claimed its third consecutive regular-season conference championship and 11th overall in program history.
“The goal [tonight] was to reach our short-term goal [league title] and thankfully, we were able to do that,” said Gators head coach Miguel Torres, whose team seized the league’s automatic qualifying bid for the NC High School Athletic Association playoffs, which kick off Oct. 30.
“Goldsboro put up a tough match, but we wanted to work on execution and put some goals in the back of the net. [I said] bring the intensity, especially the first 10 minutes of game, bring the scoring opportunities.”
Torres didn’t wait long.
Jeheili Velasquez-Sanchez notched the first goal 26 seconds after kickoff off an assist from Miteu. Miteu scored in the 5th minute and assisted Velasquez-Sanchez on his second goal at 14:59.
Miteu completed his hat trick in the 39th and 40th minutes. The senior midfielder boosted his single-season totals to 21 goals, nine assists and 50 points.
Marin Lopez-Perez, Joseph Carranza and Gustabo Vargas-Fajardo each connected on goals in the second half. Miteu assisted Lopez-Perez.
“We created goal-scoring opportunities [the first meeting], but we wanted to be more clinical this game,” said Torres, whose team organized its attack from the back, pushed the ball down the sidelines and spread the Cougars’ defense to create passing lanes.
“Just wanted to be good at finishing in the back of the net. We did that today and we also didn’t allow them to score.”
SC net-minders Joseph Vasquez and Edgar Avila-Anguiano combined for the shutout between the pipes. Vasquez collected four saves in the first half. The duo has recorded seven clean sheets this season, including four in Neuse Six 2A action.
Graduation depleted the Gators’ experience in 2022 and last June.
With just three starters back, Torres watched his team compile a 4-8-0 worksheet in non-conference play. Three outcomes were decided by a single goal and seven opponents are currently ranked among the top 13 statewide in their respective classifications.
Torres anticipated the early struggles.
“There was a lot of frustration [brewing] from that tough, non-conference schedule, competing against some of the top teams in the state and we weren’t on the lucky end of those games,” Torres said. “Some of those games we didn’t compete, which frustrated me the most. We had to reunite, regroup, had to have a team talk and get the team aligned.
“We couldn’t forget the short-team goal because the season wasn’t over. It wasn’t easy [playing] with that label of [reigning] conference champion, but we earned it tonight.”
Spring Creek (13-8-1 overall, 9-0-0 Neuse Six 2A) returns home Thursday for senior night against Beddingfield. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m.
