Cardinal Gibbons, 2A champs

In Cardinal Gibbons fourth straight championship appearance they left no question about who deserved the trophy. Winning 5-0 over the Shelby Golden Lions they set a record for the largest margin of victory ever in a 2A championship game. The Crusaders outshot the Golden Lions 26-5, and goalkeeper Eric Hamilton didn’t have to make a save to earn the team’s 16th shutout of the season.

Cardinal Gibbons players celebrate after their 5-0 win over Shelby during the 2A NCHSAA Soccer Championship game on Nov. 16, 2008. (Photo by Grant Halverson) See the rest of his great photos here:http://www.highschoolot.com/content/image_gallery/3971693/


Gibbons smashes Shelby 5-0 for 2-A soccer title

Powerful Cardinal Gibbons squads blanks Shelby in State 2A soccer final

Montero scores 3 in soccer final



Hopes smothered for Lions
Shelby's Turner Almond, right, hugs teammate Ryan Bailey, after their loss in the state championship title game against Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh on Sunday.
Brittany Randolph / The Star

Hopes smothered for Lions

CVAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2008

Kyle Luterbach of Fred T. Foard receives Player of the Year for the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference honors. Here's some video from his Spring Club season. Look close and you'll see more CVAC All Conference players on the field with Kyle.
Congrats Kyle!

NCHSAA MEN’S STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED

NCHSAA ANNOUNCEMENT

"The forecast for heavy rain throughout much of the next two days, along with concern over field conditions and safety with four games scheduled for the Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium on the campus of North Carolina State University, forced the switch. Three games will now be played on Sunday and then the 4-A championship will be Monday night at 7 p.m."

Sunday, Nov 16 CLASS 2-A: Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (23-2-1) vs. Shelby (19-2-2) 1 p.m. CLASS 3-A: Jacksonville (25-3) vs. Charlotte Catholic (23-1-1), 4 p.m.
CLASS 1-A: Hampstead Topsail (16-5) vs. Albemarle (16-5-1), 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov 17 CLASS 4-A: New Hanover (23-2-1) vs. Charlotte Myers Park (24-0), 7 p.m.

2A SEMI-FINALS

Shelby 3
Salisbury 0

Shelby heading to state title game with 3-0 win

Cardinal Gibbons 2
First Flight 1

FINALS
Shelby vs CG 10:00am Saturday

REGION 9, 2A ALL REGION 2008

Congratulations to this year's 2A All Region.
Hibriten leads the way with four members and the CVAC is well represented with 12 members (in red).

Richie Absher, SR, F, Ashe County
Miguel Aguilar, SR, MF, Hibriten
Will Bodfish, SR, MF, Patton
Saul Carias, SR, MF, Ashe County
Jon Easton, SR, K, Hibriten
Ryan Harrold, JR, F, Wilkes Central
Jacob Joines, SR, FB, Wilkes Central
Chris Jordan, SR, F, Newton-Conover
Ethan Kilby, SR, K, Forbush
Dago Lainez, SR, MF, Hibriten
Martir Lopez, SR, FB, West Caldwell
Mauricio Lopez, SR, F, Starmount
Christian Lovas, SR, MF, Forbush
Burt Lujano, SR, MF, Forbush
Oscar Luis, SR, F, Newton-Conover
Thomas Lunsford, SR, FB, Bandys
Zach Mellon, SR, MF, Newton-Conover
Jule Picton, JR, MF, Hibriten
Michael Prigmore, SR, B, Starmount
Michael Scott, SR, FB, Patton
John See, SR, FB, Bandys
Eric Sonato, SR, MF, Surry Central

Congrats to Hibriten's 2008 All Region players

MIGUEL AQUILAR, SENIOR MIDFIELDER



JON EASTON, SENIOR GOAL KEEPER



DAGO LAINEZ, SENIOR SWEEPER




JULE PICTON, JUNIOR MIDFIELDER

2A WEST FINAL

Okay maybe I was a little premature in my reaction to the newspapers.



Salisbury plays in Western final tonight

Shelby gears up to face Salisbury in 2A soccer semifinals

NAH! A couple hundred words. The Salisbury article talks about their defense and GK, and has a picture of a player that has scored one of five of their play off goals.
Come on you can do better.

2A semifinals soccer match

Unfortunately High School Football play offs have begun so this is the most any newspaper can muster for the Western Regional Final tomorrow night. The Shelby Star has:

"Shelby High School will host Salisbury High School for the Western 2A Regional soccer championship on Wednesday at Blanton Memorial Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. and admission will be $7.

The winner of the game will play in Saturday's state championship game at 10 a.m. at the Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium at N.C. State."

The Salisbury Post prints:

"If Salisbury wins its soccer game at Shelby Wednesday, it will play in the 2A state championships game at 10 a.m. on Saturday at N.C. State."

Of course that's buried beneath the news of the fan bus going to Pisgah for the first round Football game.

THEN THERE WERE TWO, 2A WEST UPDATE

Hibriten 0
Salisbury 2

Prep Soccer Playoffs: Salisbury 2, Hibriten 0

Inches away from victory

"Sexton gave most of the credit to goalkeeper Frankie Cardelle... Cardelle has spent most of the season stopping about four shots per game. In this win, shots were consistently peppered at him and the senior never flinched, stopping 21 Panther tries."

Shelby 2
Forbush 1

2A WEST FINAL FOUR

photo by N.M. Lewis

SALISBURY TRAVELS TO HIBRITEN
GAME TIME 7:00pm

Salisbury soccer to face Hibriten

Regional final spot on the line

FORBUSH AT SHELBY
GAME TIME 6:00pm

"Forbush has won nine straight matches and took its only two losses on the road, against Reynolds early in the season and against Wilkes Central in a Mountain-Valley 2-A game. Forbush had a split in the regular season with Wilkes Central, which lost 2-1 to Shelby on Wednesday night.

Shelby is 15-0-2 in its last 17 matches and has scored 68 goals while allowing 14. The Lions' only losses came against Class 4-A and Class 3-A programs."
Mason Linker, Winston-Salem Journal

2A WEST PLAYOFF UPDATE Round 3

Hibriten 2
East Davidson 1
Picton leads Panther rally



South Iredell 0
Salisbury 1
The streaking Hornets bottled some more magic Wednesday night
Last-minute goal ends Vikings' impressive campaign

South Iredell’s Chris Laws races upfield in Wednesday’s 2A state playoff game as Salisbury’s Randy Almeida gives chase.


Shelby 2
Wilkes Central 1
Golden Lions nip Wilkes Central 2-1 in double OT

Shelby's Turner Almond (16) fends off Wilkes Central's Chris Skidmore (24) for the ball Wednesday evening during the 2A men's soccer third round state playoff game at Blanton Memorial Stadium.


Forbush 3
Owen 0
Owen's playoff run ended by Forbush

Owen's Oscar Orellana, left, battles Forbush 's Burt Lujano for the ball during Wednesday's NCHSAA playoff game. - John Coutlakis

2A WEST second round results

East Davidson 1
West Stanly 0
East is sole survivor in soccer playoffs

Lexington 1
Hibriten 6
Panthers dominate, advance

East Davidson travels to Hibriten

West Davidson 2
South Iredell 3
West Davidson came back from a two-goal deficit

Forest Hills 0
Salisbury 1
Salisbury advances to third round

South Iredell faces Salisbury

Patton 0
Shelby 1
Shelby advances in playoffs with 1-0 win

Wilkes Central 1
West Henderson 0

Shelby hosts Wilkes Central

Newton-Conover 1
Owen 2

Smoky Mountain 1
Forbush 3

Owen travels to Forbush

2A WEST first round results

East Lincoln 2
East Davidson 4

East Lincoln senior Jeremy Glenn (left) attempts to dribble away from East Davidson sophomore Travis Luck during Wednesday’s first round playoff contest. Luck scored three goals and the Eagles defeated the Mustangs 4-2. Keith Coward / Special to the Lincoln Times-News
Soccer: Luck, Eagles advance
Luck wasn’t on Mustangs side

East Davidson faces West Stanly

Lexington 5
Starmount 2
Lexington soccer: From last to playoffs

Lexington's Carlos Solis (12) battles Starmount's Michael Prigmore for a loose ball during their 2-A state playoff match at Philpott Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.
Martinez, Jackets whip Starmount

Lexington travels to Hibriten

Monroe 3
West Davidson 5
Soccer: Dragons down Monroe

West Davidson faces South Iredell


Lincolnton 1
Forest Hills 2
Wolves lose in OT

Forest Hills faces Salisbury

Patton 1
Surry Central 0
Wayne Whaley
Patton High's Kevin Stone, No. 9, is challenged by Surry Central High's Meachum Marsh, No. 3, on Wednesday in Morganton.
Patton soccer advances to Round 2

Patton faces Shelby

Wilkes Central 3
Ashe County 0

Evan Love, Ashe’s keeper, comes off his line and punches this ball away from the ensuing Wilkes Central attacker during the Huskies’ season ending 3-0 loss Wednesday evening.(Post Photo/Michael Graybeal)
Soccer ends historic season

Wilkes faces West Henderson

Newton-Conover 3
North Henderson 1

Michael Justus/Times-News
North Henderson High School's Tito Maciel boxes in the ball during a game against Newton-Conover High School Wednesday at North. At right is Newton-Conover's Carlos Lopez.

Knights fall to defending champions


Newton-Conover faces Owen

Smoky Mountain 3
Draughn 1
Jarrod Couch had two goals, including the go-ahead score two minutes into the second half, to help the Mustangs advance to the second round.
Couch struck first on a pass from Richard Ramirez 30 seconds after Draughn took the lead in the first half. After halftime, Rodrigo Nogal assisted Couch on the second score. Paul Ulrich added the insurance goal in the 49th minute.

Smoky Mountain faces Forbush

CVAC UPDATE 10/23/08

Hickory 2
Hibriten 1

"It was a good, tough game," Hickory coach Brian Jillings said. "The speed of play was like 100 miles per hour."

St. Stephens 2
Newton-Conover 1

Zack Melton and Jackson Pitofsky score for Saint. Addison Day tallies N-C's lone goal.

Fred T. Foard 4
Bandys 1

Kyle Luterbach scores a hat trick for Foard with David Whitman adding the fourth goal. T. J. Robinson scored Bandys goal.

West Caldwell 5
Bunker Hill 1

Matir Lopez led WC with two goals. Adam Clarke, Caleb Branch and Caleb Gragg each added a goal.

Patton
Maiden

2A WEST PLAYOFF BRACKET 1st ROUND (Bottom Half 2008

#2 Catawba Valley ( PATTON)
----------------------------------------------------
#3 Mountain Valley (SURRY CENTRAL)



#1 Southwestern(SHELBY #5)
----------------------------------------------------SHELBY #5
BYE



#2 Mountain Valley (WILKES CENTRAL#15)
---------------------------------------------------
ASHE





#1 Western Athletic (WEST HENDERSON#9)
------------------------------------------------------WEST HENDERSON #9
BYE


#3 Catawba Valley (NEWTON-CONOVER)
------------------------------------------------------
#3 Western Athletic (NORTH HENDERSON)


#1 Western Highlands (OWEN)
-----------------------------------------------------OWEN
BYE


#2 Western Athletic (SMOKY MTN #10)
----------------------------------------------------
JIMMY C. DRAUGHN

#1 Mtn. Valley (FORBUSH #13)
-----------------------------------------------------FORBUSH #13
Bye

2A WEST PLAYOFF BRACKET 1st ROUND (Top Half 2008) updated 10/21

Those in red have clinched the particular bracket spot they are placed in:

#2 Southern Piedmont (EAST LINCOLN)
--------------------------------------------------------
#3 Central Carolina (EAST DAVIDSON)


#1 Rocky River (WEST STANLY)
-------------------------------------------------------- WEST STANLY
BYE


#2 Central Carolina (LEXINGTON)
--------------------------------------------------------
STARMOUNT


#1 Catawba Valley (HIBRITEN #8)
-----------------------------------------------------HIBRITEN
BYE


#2 Rocky River (MONROE)
-----------------------------------------------------
WEST DAVIDSON

#1 Southern Piedmont (SOUTH IREDELL #7)
-----------------------------------------------------SOUTH IREDELL
BYE


#3 Southern Piedmont (LINCOLNTON)
-----------------------------------------------------
#3 Rocky River (FOREST HILLS)


#1 Central Carolina (SALISBURY #14)
-----------------------------------------------------SALISBURY
BYE

CVAC UPDATE 10/21/08

Hickory 4
Newton-Conover 1

Hibriten 8
Bandys 0

Fred T Foard 5
Maiden 0

St. Stephens 4
West Caldwell 0

Patton 8
Bunker Hill 0

2A TOP FIFTEEN 10/19/08

1 Cardinal Gibbons 16-2-1
2 First Flight 15-1-1
3 Swansboro 16-4-0
4 Northwood 16-2-2
5 Shelby 13-2-2
6 Franklinton 18-3-1
7 South Iredell 15-1-0
8 Hibriten 17-4-0
9 West Henderson 15-2-0
10 Smokey Mountain 17-2-0
11 Richlands 13-4-2
12 Tarboro 14-1-2
13 Forbush 14-2-1
14 Salisbury 12-4-1
15 Wilkes Central 13-3-0

NC HIGH SCHOOL NEWS 10/20/08

South Iredell 2, East Lincoln 1
Statesville Record And Landmark 10/18

Cougars soccer team takes Freedom 2-1
Morganton News Herald 10/16

Patton, St. Stephens soccer battle to tie
Morganton News Herald 10/16

Pioneers soccer overpowers Cavaliers
Morganton News Herald 10/17

Lumberton stuns E.E. Smith in OT
The Robesonian 10/16


Lincolnton sophomore Moises Pena scored the Wolves first goal in their 2-0 upset win over its rival and No. 11 ranked East Lincoln Monday. East Lincoln defeated Lincolnton 3-2 earlier in the season. File Photo
The Lincolnton Wolves upset East Lincolnton
Lincoln Times-News 10/15

Panthers pound Bunker Hill
Lenoir News Topic 10/14

Panthers roll past Maiden
Lenoir News Topic 10/15


Mallard Creek's Emmu Wakai (left) tries to go around North Meck's Austin Holland.
One tough Tuesday night
Huntersville Herald 10/15

Bryant, Day lead Indians past Tigers
Hickory Daily Record 10/14

Havelock soccer team falls to D.H. Conley
Havelock News 10/15

Rampants' early strike holds up
Greenville Reflector 10/15



News-Argus/MITCH LOEBER
Eastern Wayne's Josh Olmsted dives on the ball in front of his goal during the Warriors away game Monday evening at Charles B. Aycock High School.
Aycock rebounds against Eastern Wayne

More photos for this story are available in the gallery

Is schedule a good test for Aycock?
Goldsboro News-Argus 10/15

Chargers play Knights tough
Goldsboro News-Argus 10/15

Gators claim conference win


Charles B. Aycock capture a share of the Eastern Carolina Conference men's soccer title

Goldsboro News-Argus 10/16


News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Wayne Christian's Jordan Crouthamel heads the ball against Cape Fear Christian during a N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A playoff game on Friday.

Eagles collect first-ever boys' soccer playoff win
Goldsboro News-Argus 10/19

Rams advance in playoffs
Roanoke Chowan News Herald 10/18

Bearcats stand as area's only unbeaten soccer team
Asheville Citizen Times 10/15


credit: Photo by Lee Barrett, ImagesbyLee.com
Owen defender Tyler Metcalf dribbles past an opponent during the Warhorse soccer team’s game against Madison on Monday.

Warhorse soccer team shuts out Madison at home
Black Mountain News 10/15



Photo by David Johnson Hobbton’s Ricardo Mejia, keeps the ball in his control in a game earlier this week against West Bladen.

Pender spoils Senior Night for Wildcats
Sampson Independent 10/16

Dark Horses take Croatan 2-0 in march to get five
Sampson Independent 10/16


Photo by Billy Todd Clinton soccer player, Jose Gallegos, takes control of the ball. Gallegos is backed by fellow Dark Horse, Field Palmer.
Dark Horses shut out South Lenoir
Sampson Independent 10/15


Dark Horses win over Richlands, first in 28 games
Sampson Independent 10/14


Panthers win overtime thriller Pasquotank beats Currituck, 4-3
The Daily Advance 10/15

West sweeps a pair
Bladen Journal 10/16

Starmount nipped by Eagles in OT
Elkin Tribune 10/17


Starmount scores plenty of goals on senior night
Elkin Tribune 10/15

Soccer Streak Ends vs. E Wake
The Garner Citizen 10/13

CVAC UPDATE 10/16/08

Hickory 9
Bandys 0

Hickory remains undefeated behind a hat trick frome Drake Fisher. Tucker Broome scored two goals and Blai Yang, Andy Bradshaw, Jordi Uribe and Austin barber each put one in the net.

Hibriten 6
Maiden 0

Panthers roll past Maiden

St. Stephens 1
Patton 1

Patton got its goal from Khue Lane off an assist from Vince Thao to tie the game.

Fred T. Foard 8
Bunker Hill 0

Luterbach scores four more with Kyle Lloyd, Corey Wiles, Brodie Ruffner and Logan Meyer each scoring a goal.

Newton-Conover 3 OT
West Caldwell 2

Warriors fall in OT
West Caldwell rallied to push the game into OT with two goals from Martir Lopez. Zack Mellon had one goal for N-C and Oscar Luis had two, including the game winner in the second overtime period.