Princeton’s Josh Coley, left, challenges Spring Creek’s Homar Lopez Castro for possession during first-half action Thursday evening in “The Swamp.” (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Aggressive from the opening kickoff, Princeton gave Spring Creek all it wanted — and more — on the soccer pitch Thursday evening.
The Bulldogs barked, bit and constantly hounded the Gators on every possession.
And when Josh Coley leveled the highly-competitive contest at 1-1 just after halftime, the intensity and physicality increased.
The Gators didn’t stop chomping, either.
Joyner Perez Zunun provided the game-winning goal in the 64th minute, which lifted Spring Creek to a 2-1 victory in “The Swamp.” The Gators remained perfect in seven Neuse Six 2-A outings this season.
“It’s a different Princeton team than we saw the first time,” SC head coach Miguel Torres said. “They made their adjustments and then they made it hard for us today … a credit to them and their coach [Thomas Pilkington].
“They started from from the attack and worked it all the way down to like the goalkeeper. I mean they put the size and the speed up top, the presses and it caused us trouble.”
Spring Creek scored in the seventh minute.
Yonatan Morales stepped to a loose ball and crossed a pass to Erix Sosa Rodriguez inside the 6-yard box. The sophomore ripped a shot that deflected off the right post.
It rebounded toward the left post and rolled just inside the goal line before Princeton keeper Connor Woodall could get his mitts on it.
Rodriguez scored for the second straight game.
Woodall kept the net clear for the next 33-plus minutes. He logged five saves on 10 shots.
Princeton continued its pressure-packed mentality to start the second half. Coley’s goal came off Johan Mayoral Cisnero’s assist in the fourth minute.
That ended the Gators’ program-best streak of 624 consecutive scoreless minutes.
“It was just a big shot in the mouth, you know,” Torres said. “We hadn’t conceded a goal [in conference] until tonight, so it was kind of difficult to take. And I think the boys were slow to react today, but, I mean, that’s something we’ve got to work on.”
Princeton threatened again around the 15th minute.
Gator goalie Edgar Avila Anguiano took down a Bulldog player just outside the box. The Bulldogs misfired on the indirect kick and Torres took a deep breath on the sideline.
Locked in, both teams consistently attacked and counter-attacked as minutes ticked away. Anguiano stopped another direct shot taken just outside the 18.
“I just didn’t want the boys to getting in chaotic mode,” Torres said. “We just kind of wanted to control the tempo, possession of the ball and hopefully we’re able to get [another] one and we were lucky tonight to get a second [goal].”
Zunun’s goal came off Morales’ assist.
His game-deciding shot slipped between Woodall and the left post.
“I think it was a matter of time,” Torres said. “Keep taking shots and put them on target. If you’re on the wing, just run that side, you’ll have an opportunity because I think we missed some of those [chances] in the first half.”
Anguiano logged three saves on five shots during the second half. The senior net-minder helped the Gators secure their eighth straight triumph.
Torres’ team has prevailed in nine of 10 matches since mid-September. SC improved to 19-0-1 all-time against Princeton.
“Even after they tied and made it hard for us, we were still going after it and we wanted to win the game,” Torres said. “We weren’t going to be happy with a tie. [The] win is a huge step forward as far as the conference championship, which is our goal … important for us.”
Spring Creek (11-7-2 overall, 7-0-0 Neuse Six 2A) continues league play next Tuesday at Goldsboro. Princeton (6-8-3, 4-2-2) visits Wilson Beddingfield the same evening.
You may reach Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
