Charles B. Aycock junior Drew Huff, left, scores a chip shot over Southern Wayne backup goalie Daniel Diaz during the seventh minute of their Quad County 3A soccer game Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Southern Wayne head soccer coach Luis Ramirez praised his team during their post-game huddle Monday evening.
He complimented their passing, consistent possession, communication and effort against a quality ball team … well … a respected arch rival.
However, one aspect bothered Ramirez.
The Saints just couldn’t finish in their offensive third of the field during a 4-1 loss to Charles B. Aycock on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex pitch.
“Everything that was hurting us early on was our organization on the field … find the spot, the open pockets,” Ramirez said. “We’re getting the ball on our feet, but whenever it comes to finishing at the goal, getting some points on the board, that’s what is stopping us.
“We’ve got to get some shots going. We’ve got to get those results going.”
Golden Falcon net-minders Gabriel Pena and backup goalie Thomas Horton combined for seven saves on eight SW shots. Pena stopped six shots in 75 minutes of work.
Jesus Castillo netted the Saints’ lone goal – a 30-yard free kick that sailed into the lower left corner of the net. His score occurred in the 60th minute.
“We definitely knew they were a good team and have been every four years that we’ve played them,” Ramirez said. “Every game [in the conference] is going to be a tough one. We started implementing our heads there at the end at the end, but they were just a little more clinical than we were.
“I wouldn’t say we necessarily controlled [the tempo], but we were able to apply a standard for the game. There were opportunities they were able to get, capitalize on that mistakes that we did.”
The key error occurred early.
Drew Huff, the conference’s leading scorer, gathered a loose ball inside the Saints’ 18-yard box. He coaxed keeper Daniel Diaz off the line and connected on a right-footed chip shot that sailed over Diaz’s head into the net.
“Unfortunately, he had to step in at the last minute because our starting keeper [Jefferson Morales] had a last-minute emergency, so he had quick notice,” Ramirez said. “I’m not going to knock him for that first goal because he did give me like two or three goals in the first half, so I applaud him for that.”
Diaz logged five saves on eight shots.
Huff completed his natural hat trick (three consecutive goals) in the 40th and 47th minutes, which boosted his season total to 15. The junior striker filed his third hat trick and second against QCC opposition.
Avery Abrams connected in the 73rd minute.
Gabriel Payne, Brian Abarca Bibiano and Eli Waters each notched an assist for Aycock, which improved to 17-6-1 against the Saints since 2011.
The Golden Falcons extended their win streak to six, which started with a 1-0 shutout of James Kenan two weeks ago. They departed Dudley 10-4-0 overall and 5-0-0 in league matters.
“They capitalized on our mistakes, got some good goals,” Ramirez said.
Diaz notched five saves on eight shots. Junior Omar Soler Sanchez posted the same stat sheet. Leonel Mondragon stopped the Golden Falcons’ lone shot during the final three minutes of play.
Southern Wayne (4-8-0 overall, 2-2-0 QCC) returns home Thursday for a QCC match against East Wake. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
