RICHMOND COUNTY — It was a wild finish to the area middle school soccer schedule this week, seeing several teams go to a shootout, while one remained perfect on the season.
Wet weather postponed several games early in the week, as most teams saw just one game of action instead of their normal two.
Lady Wildcats stay atop conference standings
The Ellerbe Middle School girls’ soccer team improved to 6-0 on the season Wednesday when the Lady Wildcats shutout in-county rival Cordova Middle School. Playing at home, Ellerbe notched a 4-0 win.
A pair of eighth graders scored all of Ellerbe’s goals, with Nyla Stroman and Yuliana Gonzalez each netting two scores. Last week, Stroman scored a team-high six goals in two games. Fellow eighth grader and goalkeeper Chloe Nunn earned the shutout in net.
Ellerbe and head coach Derek Anderson will head to Sandy Grove Middle School next Friday to make up a game from earlier in the week. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Ellerbe boys edge tough Cavaliers team
In the boys’ game, the Ellerbe Wildcats escaped with a 2-0 win over the rival Cavaliers. Eighth grader Yair Aquino netted both of his team’s goals, getting assists from Gerardo Aguirre and and Vance Goodwin.
Head coach Jimmy Chavez’s team improved to 5-1 overall on the season, and saw Wednesday’s shutout kept intact thanks to the combined efforts of Gavin Applewhite and Konner Carter in goal. Ellerbe’s lone loss of the season came against Hamlet Middle School in the opener.
The boys’ team will also play Sandy Grove next week on the road at 4 p.m.
Rockets pull through in epic shootout against Spring Hill
The Rockingham Middle School boys’ soccer team earned a well-deserved victory Thursday at home against Spring Hill Middle School, outlasting the Spartans in 17 rounds of penalty kicks to win 3-2.
Both teams would enter halftime scoreless, and the Rockets battled back twice to tie the game to force PKs. The Spartans netted the game’s first goal on a fastbreak in the opening of the second half, and Andrew Conyers tied it at one moments later.
Following another fastbreak goal by Spring Hill, eighth grader Chris Lopez would take advantage on a regulation penalty kick to knot the game once more, this time with three minutes left in the second half.
That goal started the carousel of penalty kicks to determine the winner. Each round afforded the Rockets and Spartans five chances to pull ahead, but the first three bounds all ended in a tie.
Finally, 17 rounds later, Conyers netted the game-winning goal. Jed Davis scored on both of his penalty kick opportunities. Daniel Webb’s team improved to 6-1, and will play at Hamlet Middle School on Tuesday (4 p.m.).
Lady Rockets also win in extra time against Spring Hill
The Rockingham girls’ soccer team also saw its game go to penalty kicks, but it wasn’t as extensive as their Rocket counterparts. The Lady Rockets edged the Lady Spartans 2-1 following the PKs.
Sixth grader Jamyia Lindsey was responsible for the regulation goal for the Lady Rockets, and was assisted by eighth grader Karter Walker.
Walker, along with teammates Gabby Lutz, Allie Rodgers, Evie Howell and C’Nedra Hinson would all boot the ball in the back of the net to earn the overtime victory. Linzy Hull’s Lady Rockets also improved to 6-1, and will face rival Hamlet on Tuesday.
Hamlet boys’ and girls’ teams sweep West Hoke
To close out the week, the Hamlet Red Rams and Lady Red Rams made easy work against West Hoke Middle School. Both teams shut out their respective opponent, with the boys winning 5-0 and the girls blanking the Lady Tigers 4-0.
Leading the way for the Red Rams was Christian Robinson, who scored a game-high two goals. Joining the scoring parade with one goal apiece were Carson Dixon, Samuel Hawks and Zay Hubbard. David Grant added an assist.
No individual scoring information was provided for the Lady Red Rams’ win. The boys are now 5-2, while the girls improved to 6-1. Both teams will host rival Rockingham on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
