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Wilkes Central eliminates SM from soccer playoffs
Ryan Harrold scored three goals Saturday leading Wilkes Central to a 5-4 overtime victory over Smoky Mountain in the second round of the state 2-A soccer playoffs at Moravian Falls.
Richard Ramirez matched Harrold’s total with three goals for the Mustangs, who finished the season 15-6-1. Ramirez scored six of his team’s seven goals in two playoffs games.
“It was a painful loss, but we felt very good about the things we set out to do,” Coach Dolphus Brown said. “We prepared ourselves to play this team and to play with maximum effort. We felt we achieved those things by playing as smart as we could and as hard as we could.”
Smoky Mountain defender Jason Grimes controls the ball during last week’s 3-0 victory over Madison in the first round of the state 2-A playoffs. The Mustangs’ season ended Saturday with a 5-4 overtime loss at Wilkes Central. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
The Eagles had been ranked number one most of the season in the state 2-A poll.
“It was an awesome soccer match,” Brown said. “They had enormous speed. They weren’t superior in their preparation, and they weren’t superior in their effort and desire. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for more.”
SM scored first at the 16:44 mark when Ramirez took a pass from Cort Smith and shot from 12 yards on the right side as the keeper came out to challenge him.
Harrold’s shot on a breakaway from 12 yards on the right side to the far post tied it 1-1 at the 25:20 mark, and that was the halftime score.
Ramirez put the Mustangs up 2-1 at the 62:10 mark as he took a pass from Smith inside the box on the left and shot from 8 yards to the far post.
The Eagles tied it less than three minutes later on David Walker’s shot from 17 yards out on the left side to the far post at the 65-minute mark.
Harrold had another breakaway and shot from 14 yards on the right side giving Wilkes a 3-2 edge at the 69:30 mark.
“We just couldn’t contain his speed,” Brown said of Harrold.
The Mustangs forced overtime when Ramirez juked a defender and shot from 8 yards on the right to the far post after a throw-in by Matt Dougherty with a minute remaining in regulation.
The Eagles regained the lead at 4-3 on Walker’s goal just under two minutes into the first overtime with a shot from 16 yards on the right side. The play started with a free kick.
They made it 5-3 midway through the second OT on Harrold’s third goal. The play started with a corner kick, which Harrold collected 15 yards out, dribbled, then turned and shot to his left into the net.
The Mustangs refused to fold and cut the gap to 5-4 at the 96:50 mark as David Cheatham scored from 8 yards out off Dougherty’s throw-in.
“That’s just the way they are,” Brown said. “They wouldn’t quit.”
Wilkes controlled most of the game with a 29-12 advantage in shots. Eli Corwin kept SM in contention with 18 saves. Taylor Curley made six saves for the Eagles.
“We maintained our poise throughout the game,” Brown said. “That’s a real trademark of this group. They’re just a special bunch of guys.”
Ramirez has hat trick
Ramirez scored all three goals as the Mustangs opened the playoffs Oct. 31 with a 3-0 win over Madison at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.
“I’m very excited about the win,” Brown said. “The mental preparation of our young men was perfect. I think they learned a lesson last year.”
He was referring to a first round playoff match-up between the same teams last season when Madison won in sudden death overtime.
“We we’re very composed throughout the game,” Brown said. “The cards were flying, but we didn’t get any. We played a hard-nosed, physical game, but we didn’t let the emotions take over.”
Ramirez opened the scoring with just more than five minutes elapsed with an assist from Dougherty. Ramirez collected the ball from Dougherty about 14 yards out. When the Madison keeper came out of the net, Ramirez lofted the ball past him to the far post from about 8 yards.
“We came out of the gate hard and fast and got an early goal,” Brown said. “That gave us a lot of confidence.”
Ramirez sent a free kick into the net from about 22 yards out some three minutes into the second half.
“We talked about going around the wall instead of going over the top,” the coach said. “The keeper just looked at the ball when it went past him.”
The 2-0 lead put the Mustangs in control, according to Brown.
“I thought they panicked a little bit at that point,” he said.
The third goal came in the 57th minute. Keller Berry flicked the ball back to Ramirez, who collected it unattended. When a defender challenged him, Ramirez shot the ball past the Patriot player from about 10 yards.
“Richard went off on them, Brown said. “He almost had a couple of more.”
The Mustangs had a 17-9 advantage in shots. Corwin made five saves, and Madison’s Christian Maloney had 11.
“It was a great night for Mustang soccer,” Brown said. “I’m sorry about what happened at the end, but it didn’t taint the fact about how we played.”
He was referring to a confrontation with the officials that involved at least one Madison player and fan. Things quickly calmed down after four law enforcement officers, including one already at the game, responded.
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