North Duplin’s Robinho Godinez (9) takes possession of the ball after he collided with Rosewood defender Landon Lowery near midfield Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — The post-game photo said it all.
Players hugged and smiled toward the camera, which froze a historic moment in time Tuesday evening at H.E. Grubbs Field.
Rubinho Godinez notched the eventual game-winning goal in the 38th minute, which spearheaded North Duplin’s 2-0 decision over Rosewood.
It was win No. 1 for new head coach Juan Carlos.
“It feels great,” Carlos said as he watched his team continue its celebration while they moved a goal off the field. “This is what we needed to get them motivated and realize that when they push, they can get whatever they want.
“They played pretty hard, they have the heart and that’s actually what matters.”
The Rebels snapped an 11-game skid against the Eagles.
The Carolina 1A foes played a back-and-forth, counter-attacking style that resulted in shots – but no goals through the opening 36-plus minutes.
North Duplin struggled with its midfield distribution. Rosewood couldn’t finish once it advanced inside the 18-yard box. The teams combined for 18 shots, including four that clanged off either the goal post or crossbar.
“I think we had more possession, but you don’t get points for possessing the ball,” RHS head coach Eddie Maldonado said. “I think when they had the opportunities, they put them in the back of the net. We didn’t have any good opportunities.
“In the final third [of the field], we just couldn’t break them down … just couldn’t do it.”
The Rebels caught the first break in the 38th minute.
A quick shot on goal stayed alive inside the 6-yard box. The Eagles didn’t reorganize defensively and failed to mark Godinez, whose one-touch strike dropped into the net.
North Duplin led 1-0.
“I didn’t even see it to be honest with you,” Maldonado said. “I had turned around to talk to one of the boys on the bench, so I can’t tell you what happened.”
Carlos described the goal as a “breather” for his team.
The energized Rebels maintained the pressure after the second-half kickoff. They diligently worked on both ends of the pitch to protect their one-goal margin against the Eagles, who began to display some frustration.
Sweeper Juan Chavez stepped into open spaces and turned away several Rosewood possessions either inside or outside the 18. His presence took some pressure off senior keeper Julio Gomez, who ended the night with four saves.
Senior Miqueas Velasquez, who also runs cross country, tallied the Rebels’ second goal in the 74th minute. His shot off a pass from junior Emanuel Mendez settled into the upper right corner of the net.
“When the game went on, we started to get frustrated and that’s what I talked about with them [in post-game],” Maldonado said. “Today was a test of your character and as the second half went on, we stayed down a goal, we failed that test because we started fussing with each other … arguing … fell apart.”
North Duplin (1-3-1 overall, 1-3-1 Carolina) launches second-half conference play Wednesday at Neuse Charter. Rosewood (2-7-0, 2-3-0) is the guest of league-leading Hobbton the same evening.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
