James Kenan’s Francisco Roldan (10) and Isaias Ruiz (11) defend against a Seaforth player during third-round action in the NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A soccer playoffs Friday in Warsaw. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CLINTON – The lone, remaining team carrying the East Central 2A Conference banner bowed out of the postseason Saturday evening.
Tri-ECC champion James Kenan dropped a 2-1 decision to top-seeded Clinton in their quarterfinal-round battle the NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A boys’ soccer playoffs.
Game details were not available.
The 13th-seeded Tigers set up the showdown with a 3-0 conquest of 28th seeded-Seaforth on Friday afternoon.
“It was a tough-fought match until we got that second and third goal and that made me a whole lot more relaxed,” JK head coach Mitchell Quinn said. “That’s a good team. They moved the ball well, knew where each other is on the field. We’re fortunate enough to come out with a win.”
Kenan had scoring chances early.
The Tigers controlled the tempo, worked the ball through the midfield and overlapped on the wings to create opportunities on goal.
But Seaforth (9-11-3 overall) made it difficult defensively. The Hawks kept two players forward, one roamed just outside the midfield area and seven crowded the box. The ploy made movement difficult for the Tigers, who couldn’t deliver a clean shot on frame.
Hawks keeper Jack Haste refused to concede anything, either.
The lanky senior denied point-blank range shots inside the penalty area on numerous occasions during the first 10 minutes. He concluded the game with 15-plus saves.
“That goalie … he’s pretty dang good,” Quinn said.
A long-range shot got Kenan on the board.
Robert Ordonez gathered a loose ball and dribbled toward the right sideline. He beat his lone defender and ripped a 25-yard shot that bounced off the back post and into the net.
“I’m not so crazy with him being on the right side of the field and him left-footed, but it worked out on that particular play,” Quinn said of the 17th-minute score.
Ten minutes later, JK goalie Emerson “E-Money” Gomez made a brilliant save on a free kick outside the outside. The ball bounced off his mitts towards a Seaforth player, who slid and just missed converting the rebound.
Kenan entered halftime ahead 1-0.
Quinn encouraged his team to keep possession and let Seaforth crowd the box. Sooner or later, he knew the Tigers would find at least one more goal to seal the outcome.
They got two.
Peter Omega scored twice in 76 seconds and James Kenan (17-5-1) punched its ticket to the east quarterfinals for the second time since 2022 and third trip overall in reaching the east 1A finals in 2016.
The Tigers recorded their second consecutive playoff shutout and 11th on the season.
“Our defense has been good all year,” said Quinn, whose team eliminated defending state champion Franklin County in round two. “It all started last semester in class. [David] Kebert was my goalie and probably my go-to goalie this year. But last semester when I saw him play defense, I’m thinking to myself there’s no way because I’ve got someone just as good that can play goalie.
“Kebert can be on defense. I told Kebert, ‘you’re getting to ready change positions, buddy.’ He’s solid.”
A native of Haiti, Omega played his final game along with Gomez, Francisco Roldan, Bryan Gonzalez, Brandon Hernandez, Joshua Hernandez, Lincoln Meza, Edier Ruiz, Isaias Ruiz and Yordan Santivanez.
According to NCHSAA records available online, the Tigers are 28-24 with 24 consecutive playoff appearances. They’ve won regular-season championships in four difference conferences since 2000 – Super 6-Carolina 1A-2A (2000, 2004, 2005, 2006), Tri-County 1A (2008), Carolina 1A (2013, 2015) and East Central (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024).
The “2019 title” occurred during the COVID year and was shared with Spring Creek and county nemesis Wallace-Rose Hill.
punched its ticket to the east quarterfinals for the second time since 2022 and third trip overall in reaching the east 1A finals in 2016.
The Tigers recorded their second consecutive playoff shutout and 11th on the season.
“Our defense has been good all year,” said Quinn, whose team eliminated defending state champion Franklin County in round two. “It all started last semester in class. [David] Kebert was my goalie and probably my go-to goalie this year. But last semester when I saw him play defense, I’m thinking to myself there’s no way because I’ve got someone just as good that can play goalie.
“Kebert can be on defense. I told Kebert, ‘you’re getting to ready change positions, buddy.’ He’s solid.”
A native of Haiti, Omega played his final game along with Gomez, Francisco Roldan, Bryan Gonzalez, Brandon Hernandez, Joshua Hernandez, Lincoln Meza, Edier Ruiz, Isaias Ruiz and Yordan Santivanez.
According to NCHSAA records available online, the Tigers are 28-24 with 24 consecutive playoff appearances. They’ve won regular-season championships in four difference conferences since 2000 – Super 6-Carolina 1A-2A (2000, 2004, 2005, 2006), Tri-County 1A (2008), Carolina 1A (2013, 2015) and East Central (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024).
The “2019 title” occurred during the COVID year and was shared with Spring Creek and county nemesis Wallace-Rose Hill.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
