BOYS SOCCER
Wakefield senior Ryan Metts (10) was one of five area soccer players named to the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association's All-State team.
Five area soccer players named
to All-State team
Wakefield senior Ryan Metts
earns All-South honors
In a conference as deep and talented as the Cap-7 was in soccer this past fall, it's only fitting the league has cleaned up with postseason awards.
Five area players — Leesville Road's Bo Burns, Millbrook's Spencer LaCivita, Wakefield's Ryan Metts and Sanderson's Glenn Scott and JP Rafferty — were all named to the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association's All-State team last month.
For Burns and Scott, this is their first year honored. But the process has become seemingly routine for Metts and LaCivita, who are repeat selections, and Rafferty, who has been recognized during each of the past three seasons. (LaCivita, the lone junior, has a chance to make it a three-peat next year.)
For their work on the pitch this fall, Millbrook's Austin Dietz (left) and Wakefield's Ryan Metts were both named to the Cap-7 Conference All-Conference team.
Cap-7 releases
All-Conference soccer selections
The Cap-7 Conference, arguably North Carolina's most competitive soccer league this fall, recently released its All-Conference selections.
Broughton — which won the conference's regular-season and tournament titles — led the league with seven All-Conference honorees, while Leesville Road and Sanderson tied for the second-most selections with six apiece.
Without further ado, the Cap-7 Conference All-Conference team ...
Wakefield's Zack Spence (left) collides with Durham Jordan's Eddie Mwangi during the Wolverines' 2-0 loss in the first round of the 4-A NCHSAA state playoffs Tuesday.
Wolverines fall to Jordan in first round
There is a certain symmetry in knowing the Wakefield soccer team's season came alive — and ended — with Durham Jordan.
Five weeks before Tuesday night's 2-0 loss to the Falcons in the first round of the NCHSAA state playoffs, the Wolverines were trudging through a disheartening 1-5-1 stretch, teetering on the brink of a dismal season.
It was Sept. 28, and Wakefield was scheduled to host Jordan — ranked No. 1 in the state both then and now. Alas rainy weather forced a cancellation, which led to Wakefield head coach Scott Sloan giving a spirited locker room speech.
Basically, it was figurative kick in the butt forhis underachieving squad. And the talk worked.
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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."
FILE PHOTO
Alex de Groot (9) and the Wakefield soccer team battles Austin Dietz (left), Alex Oloffson (21) and the Millbrook soccer team in the first round of the Cap-7 Conference soccer tournament Monday night. The Wildcats host the match-up, set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Cap-7 Conference soccer tournament schedule set
With the conclusion of the Cap-7 Conference boys soccer regular-season schedule Wednesday night, area teams begin preparing for their respective first-round match-ups in the league's tournament, which kicks off Monday, Oct. 26.
Fourth-seeded Millbrook (6-6) hosts fifth-seeded Wakefield (5-6-1), while second-seeded Leesville Road (7-4-1) hosts No. 7 Wake Forest-Rolesville (0-12). The Pride defeated the Cougars 7-0 Wednesday in the squads' respective finales.
Wakefield forward Brandon Rothfuss pushes the ball upfield against Enloe Thursday night. The Wolverines handed the Eagles a 2-0 defeat, improving Wakefield's conference record to 5-5-1.
Wolverines eclipse Eagles 2-0
Wakefield heads into conference finale with Broughton on 4-game win streak
On Sept. 23, following a 1-0 loss to Broughton, it was apparent the Wakefield boys soccer team — at 1-5 in conference play — couldn't afford to lose another league game.
And a funny thing happened after the Wolverines' disastrous start — they started playing better and didn't lose.
With Thursday's 2-0 win over Enloe, the Wolverines are just one victory away from pulling off the unthinkable: not losing in its final six league matches, and earning the league's final playoff spot.
(At 5-5-1, Wakefield owns a slight edge over fifth-place Millbrook (4-5). If the Wildcats win out, they could steal the last spot.)
"I feel like we have been must-win for a couple of weeks now," shrugged Wakefield coach Scott Sloan. "We are getting back to the top of the mountain. Now, let's just stay there."
VIDEO: Wolverines rout rival WF-R 7-0 Monday
The Wakefield boys soccer team blitzed Wake Forest-Rolesville for seven goals — two apiece from Alex de Groot and Salomon Vazquez — en route to 7-0 victory Monday, Oct. 12. For highlights of the action, click on the video above.
Wakefield's Kevin Kotecki (11) slips past Leesville Road's Chris Hawthorne (7) during Wednesday's Cap-7 Conference soccer match. The Wolverines pulled out a 2-0 win over the Pride.
Judge, Cervantez fuel Wakefield win
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half of Wednesday's soccer game at Leesville Road — two minutes after senior Jay Williams crumbled to the ground with a leg injury — Wakefield assistant coach Derek Williams was thinking defensively.
And the strategy definitely had merit.
While Wolverine Ryan Metts stood over a free kick, Williams instructed Vince Cervantez to fall back, and protect a Pride counteract. With Williams sidelined, Leesville might be able to take advantage of Wakefield's lineup change.
But as Metts' kick sailed towards goal, there was Cervantez leaping into the air, challenging Leesville keeper Davis Griffin. The Wakefield senior headed the ball off the crossbar, which fortuitously dropped down to teammate Greg Judge for the point-blank goal and a 1-0 Wolverine lead.
Leesville Road senior Bo Burns (left, No. 9) and Wakefield senior Street Johnson (right) have their respective squads surging following impressive matches earlier this week.
Pride, Wolverines face off on pitch Wednesday
Although Wednesday night's Sanderson and Millbrook soccer team's match will receive plenty of attention — and justifiably so — it could be argued Leesville Road's home match against Wakefield today features the most intriguing match-up.
Both the Pride and Wolverines have endured humbling stretches this year — Leesville lost five of its first six overall games; Wakefield faltered in five of its first conference matches. But entering tonight's contest, they are both riding notably turnarounds.
The Pride is unbeaten in its last three Cap-7 Conference challenges, including an impressive 1-1 tie with first-place Broughton Monday.
Likewise, the Wolverines jumpstarted its second half of league play with a tie against Sanderson last week, and a thrilling 5-4 victory over Millbrook two days ago.
Wakefield's Ryan Metts (left) and Millbrook's Matthew Smith fight to position themselves for the ball during Monday night's thriller, which the Wolverines won 5-4 in overtime.
Cardiac Kids
Lying at the bottom of a celebratory pile-up following his game-winning overtime goal over Millbrook Monday night, Wakefield senior Ryan Metts had a clear view of the scoreboard.
His goal just put the Wolverines' soccer team ahead 5-4 — a lead they kept— but Metts was worried about the clock. There was still 1:59 remaining in the contest's final overtime session, and the match wasn't over just yet.
"I actually thought there is too much time left," he laughed following the game.
Just five days removed from a thrilling 1-1 tie with Sanderson — Wakefield tied the game with 12 seconds remaining in regulation — the Wolverines know all too well what can happen with time on the board.
Wakefield's Greg Judge and Sanderson's Jackson Parker (13) and Nick Cioffi (5) track the ball's flight during Wednesday night's 1-1 tie at Sanderson.
SHS/WHS soccer thriller ends in tie
Not all goals are created equal.
And sometimes, a score is worth significantly more than a single point.
At least Wakefield junior Brandon Rothfuss' last-second goal in Wednesday's 1-1 overtime tie at Sanderson fits the criteria.
Trailing the Spartans 1-0 heading into the final minute of regulation, the Wolverines were clearly in desperation mode.
Several second-half opportunities had failed, and as the clock counted down, Wakefield's chances seemed to have run out.
Wakefield's Kevin Kotecki (11) holds off a Broughton defender in Wednesday's soccer match, which the Capitals won 1-0.
Wolverines fall short
at Broughton
Following Wakefield's 1-0 loss to Broughton Wednesday night — which continues a tumultuous two-week stretch for the Wolverines — assistant coach Derek Williams offered a small consolation to head coach Scott Sloan.
"We used to lose to [Broughton] 5-0," quipped Williams, a former Wolverine soccer player.
Unfortunately for Wakefield, only a moral victory can be taken away from the contest. But there is a noteworthy positive — the Wolverines played well, a rarity during their recent seven-game slide which Wakefield tallied just one win.
In fact, Sloan couldn't identify a negative in the loss.
Millbrook's Austin Dietz (center) battles Wakefield's Ryan Metts for a ball during the first half of Wednesday's Cap-7 Conference showdown. Dietz provided the contest's late-game heroics, scoring with less than eight minutes remaining, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 victory.
Dietz's goal lifts Wildcats over Wolverines
For whichever team lost Wednesday's match-up between Millbrook and Wakefield, it was going to be a crushing blow, dropping the respective squad to 0-2 in Cap-7 Conference play.
But the Wildcats' 2-1 victory — clinched on senior Austin Dietz's late goal — was even more deflating than expected for the Wolverines.
That's because early on it appeared Wakefield would be delivering the heartbreak, not receiving it.
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Wildcats pull off comeback
Although Wakefield jumped out 1-0 less than a minute into the Sept. 9 match, the Millbrook boys soccer team pulled out a come-from-behind victory. For photos of the action, click on the picture above.
Sanderson's Jackson Parker (13) and Wakefield's Jay Williams collide mid-air, battling for a jump ball. While Williams won the ball, the Spartans took the victory, winning 3-1.
Spartans continue success in conference opener
Wakefield faces short layoff, playing Millbrook Wednesday
September 9, 2009
By Tommy Kopetskie, NorthRaleighSports.com
Six minutes into Tuesday's Cap-7 Conference soccer opener at Wakefield, Sanderson forward Glenn Scott did what he's done all season: find the net.
Off a J.P. Rafferty pass, Scott shook himself open, and despite losing his balance, still netted the goal — his 11th of the season — in the corner of the far post.
The senior explained jumping out early eased some of the tension in Tuesday's match, which Sanderson eventually won 3-1. Because both squads entered the contest unbeaten, the game had the air of not just an conference kickoff, but a playoff match-up.
Spartans stop Wolverines
With its 3-1 win over Wakefield Sept. 8, the Sanderson boys soccer team improved to 7-0-1 this season. For photos of the action, click on the picture above.
Wakefield junior Davis Edwards (20) notched three goals
in Monday's 9-4 win over East Wake.
Williams, Edwards power Wakefield win
There's a not so subtle difference between this year's Wakefield boys soccer team and its 2008 version.
Simply put, this season the Wolverines have learned how to hit the back of the net.
In four of their six contests, including Monday's 9-4 victory over East Wake, the Wolverines have tallied five or more goals. Of its 22 matches a year ago, Wakefield scored more than five goals just once.
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Williams shares insight on Wakefield soccer
Moments after he scorched East Wake for four goals Aug. 31, Wakefield senior Jay Williams spoke with NorthRaleighSports.com about this upcoming conference season, facing Green Hope and setting goals. Click here to see what he had to say.
Wolverines best East Wake
With its 9-4 win over the Warriors Monday, the Wakefield boys soccer team improved to 5-0-1 this season. For photographs of the Wolverines' victory, click on the picture above.
Senior Ben Luther (6) scored a goal in the Wolverines' 13-0 rout of Knightdale Monday night.
Wolverines open in impressive fashion
As any good coach would, Wakefield boys soccer coach Scott Sloan looked for the dark cloud in the Wolverines' 13-0 rout of Knightdale Monday night.
Yes, the Wolverines looked downright dominant, staking an 8-0 lead by halftime on the strength of four Ryan Metts goals.
But Sloan knows 13-0 shutouts won't be the norm come Cap-7 Conference time, and the Wolverines need to learn as much as they can before league play begins.
One of the best players in North Carolina, Wakefield senior Ryan Metts returns this fall to lead a veteran Wolverines's squad. Metts verbally committed to Wake Forest last year.
Wakefield soccer eyes postseason run
Wakefield head soccer coach Scott Sloan won't be satisfied if the Wolverines merrily return to the postseason this fall.
With an experienced group of seniors, led by All-State selection Ryan Metts and Jay Williams, the Wolverines need to think bigger, Sloan said.
"If our goal is looking for the playoffs, we are not aiming high enough," he said, following a rain-shortened practice last week. "We want a few home games in playoffs.
"We don't have glaring holes that we have had in the past. We have balance, and we have options."
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