Millbrook boys soccer
Millbrook's Antonio Aldama (center) battles Wakefield's Zack Spence (15) for a possession during Monday's first-round Cap-7 Conference tournament game. The Wildcats pulled out a 1-0 win, advancing to play Broughton Tuesday (Oct. 27) at Leesville Road High School at 5 p.m.
Wildcats claw past Wolverines
Kennamer's second-half goal lifts Millbrook to win
To hear Millbrook soccer coach Matt Edwards explain it, without last week's win over Enloe, his Wildcats likely wouldn't have defeated Wakefield 1-0 Monday night.
After dropping four of its previous five games, the Wildcats knocked off the Eagles 2-0 in the squad's regular-season finale Oct. 21.
Five days later, Millbrook carried that momentum into its meeting with the Wolverines in the first round of the Cap-7 Conference soccer tournament.
"Enloe was a good boost of confidence in that we played well against a good team," Edwards explained. "I think that was what we really needed after we dropped some games. "We couldn't have been good tonight if we weren't good against Enloe last week."
With the victory, Millbrook advances to face Broughton Tuesday (Oct. 27) in the semifinals of the Cap-7 Conference tournament held at Leesville Road High School. The match is slated to begin at 5 p.m., with the Leesville/Sanderson contest, the other semifinal pairing, set for a 7 p.m. start.
Click here to see highlights of the Wakefield/Millbrook match.
Through the first half, Millbrook and Wakefield played evenly — which should have been expected considering the squads' two earlier meetings were split, and included a 5-4 overtime thriller won by the Wolverines Oct. 5.
Edwards wasn't optimistic either, seeing one of the Wolverines' lineup changes on defense.
"When I saw Ryan Metts playing in the back, I figured "I will never score on this team,'" the coach shrugged, alluding to the Wolverines' star senior. "He's really good, and he's not the only one. They are some really good players over there."
But the Wildcats finally got on the board early in the second half as John Kennamer scored off a Millbrook throw-in. After a teammate hit the ball toward the Wakefield net, Kennamer got a look at the goal — after tangling with a defender — and nailed it.
That's what you can expect from the junior, Edwards said, adding Kennamer showed great persistence on the play.
"He is never going to quit, and he is never going to stop playing hard," the coach said. "He never allows frustrations to get in the way of his opportunities to be great."
Edwards went as far as to compare the junior's on-the-field style to a "tasmanian devil."
Afterward, Kennamer said the score broke some of the game's tension, giving the Wildcats some breathing room.
"It was so nice to get that goal," he said. "There was good communication and teamwork on the play. And it feels good to get this win, especially considering some of the obstacles we have had to face."
The Wolverines had a few opportunities to score, but the chances either hit the post or were smothered by Millbrook keeper Spencer LaCivita.
Wakefield head coach Scott Sloan explained the victory might have eluded his team, but he wasn't unhappy with its performance.
"The effort was there, we just didn't score," he said. "You can't win them all."
Although the Wolverines won't receive one of the league's four automatic postseason bids, Sloan is confident his squad will get an at-large wild-card bid because of their strong record, which stands at 11-8-3.
"We have the best record of teams that aren't in," he shrugged. "The most difficult part now is the week-long wait until the playoffs start, and how to keep the guys up."
Sloan predicted the Wolverines will likely draw No. 1-ranked Durham Jordan — Wakefield played the Falcons last week, losing 1-0 — the winner of the Tri-9 Conference or a school of the Fayetteville area.
Millbrook senior Connor Karr pushes the ball upfield during Monday's win over Wakefield.
The good news for Wakefield is Sloan believes they are playing good soccer.
"We are playing well. We really are," he said. "From goal to 18, we are playing well. But from 18 to opposing goal we weren't on tonight."
Although the Wildcats have suffered through a tumultuous end of the season, Edwards said his squad has risen its level of play — thanks in part to its senior leadership from guys like Connor Karr and Matt Smith.
"We went through a rough patch, but we are playing well now and I think that speaks a lot more to the guys than it does to any coaching or practices," the coach said.
On Monday, the Wildcats were especially strong defensively, Edwards pointed out.
"Our centerbacks really limited their opportunities," he said.
Smith, one of the mainstays on the Wildcats' defense, played a key role in keeping the Wolverines off the scoreboard.
"Matt played some defensive center mid and he played center back — he doesn't care where he plays, he just goes," Edwards said. "It's players like that which make it so much fun to be around this game. You can see them play and enjoy it."
Senior Parker Eden gave the Wildcats energy off the bench as well, Edwards said.
Having already battled Broughton closely this year, falling in overtime 2-1 Sept. 30, the Wildcats are unfazed by the match-up with the Capitals.
"We are excited to play against them because it means you are further along (in the tournament)," Edwards said. "As well as we played tonight though, we have to do even better tomorrow."
Added Kennamer, "They are a good team, and we will need to bring our 'A' game. But we should give them a good battle."
