Stallions get by Bruins

Southwest Onslow escapes with 1-0 win Southwest Onslow escapes with 1-0 win

CAMDEN — Sometimes playoff runs are determined before the first game is played.

When the brackets for the 1A state soccer playoffs were released, Camden coach Chuck Leslie knew a top team would be going home. Unfortunately, it was his.

Southwest Onslow got a goal from Zach Matics in the second half and the Stallion won a defensive battle to advance to the second round.

“Two top-10 ranked teams in the state and I thought, ‘One of us is going home the loser,’” Leslie said. “I thought that was an awesome game played on both teams. Both teams had scoring opportunities, it just turned out that they scored the goal that they needed to put them over the hump.”

The two teams were pretty evenly matched, taking turns controlling the ball and occasionally making run at the goal. But each run was met with stout defense and neither team was able to get any real solid looks. Southwest Onlsow (12-6-2) outshot the Bruins 12-6, but only got off one or two hard shots.

Camden (15-5-2) made the most of its chances. Its best chance at a goal came in the fourth minute when Stallions goalie Danny Prevatte was caught out of position. Zach Smith beat Prevatte to the ball on the edge of the penalty area and got by him. But Smith had a sharp angle on the goal and with defenders rushing at him, he sent the ball in sailing across the goal and just wide.

The second half was much of the same as the first half. Each team trying to break through the other’s defense with little luck. Matics got off a hard shot to the low side midway through the second half, but Bruins goalie Tyler Lannon ranged to his right and made a nice play on the ball. Matics made sure the next one would not be caught.

Matics found an opening in the Camden defense about 20 yards out in the 64th minute. His shot went high and hooked into the top right corner just over Lannon’s outstretched hands.

“That was a very good second-place team (from the Coastal Plains Conference), playing a second-place team from our conference,” Leslie said.

The Bruins had one final chance with a corner kick in the final seconds, but two headers could not generate enough power and time ran out.

“My seniors have been with me for four years and they were able to capture three out of four conference title, so I was very proud of them this year,” Leslie said. “Coming in, I pushed my senior class as hard as I could. I thought this was the top senior class we’ve had in nine years. Yeah, to go out in the first round. I really thought we’d be the third or maybe the fourth round before we’d really go up against that wall. The first round, it was tough, we drew a tough team, a very good team.”

The Stallions advance to the second round to face the winner of the Spring Creek-Northside match.

CAMDEN — Sometimes playoff runs are determined before the first game is played.

When the brackets for the 1A state soccer playoffs were released, Camden coach Chuck Leslie knew a top team would be going home. Unfortunately, it was his.

Southwest Onslow got a goal from Zach Matics in the second half and the Stallion won a defensive battle to advance to the second round.

“Two top-10 ranked teams in the state and I thought, ‘One of us is going home the loser,’” Leslie said. “I thought that was an awesome game played on both teams. Both teams had scoring opportunities, it just turned out that they scored the goal that they needed to put them over the hump.”

The two teams were pretty evenly matched, taking turns controlling the ball and occasionally making run at the goal. But each run was met with stout defense and neither team was able to get any real solid looks. Southwest Onlsow (12-6-2) outshot the Bruins 12-6, but only got off one or two hard shots.

Camden (15-5-2) made the most of its chances. Its best chance at a goal came in the fourth minute when Stallions goalie Danny Prevatte was caught out of position. Zach Smith beat Prevatte to the ball on the edge of the penalty area and got by him. But Smith had a sharp angle on the goal and with defenders rushing at him, he sent the ball in sailing across the goal and just wide.

The second half was much of the same as the first half. Each team trying to break through the other’s defense with little luck. Matics got off a hard shot to the low side midway through the second half, but Bruins goalie Tyler Lannon ranged to his right and made a nice play on the ball. Matics made sure the next one would not be caught.