Pinecrest took care of business at Hoke County on Monday, running out to a 10-0 victory.
The Patriots move to 16-1-1 with the win, 10-0 in the conference. Hoke County falls to 9-5.
Vikes, Pats Put Bragging Rights on Line
Pinecrest midfielder Russell Stewart scored the first goal in last year's soccer match against Union Pines before almost 500 highly charged fans.
The Patriots won that first meeting between the teams since 2000 by the score of 2-0.
Tonight at 7 p.m. the two teams are back at it again at John Williams Field on Sandhills Youth Soccer League (SYSL) Night.
Adding to the interest are the rankings and records of the two teams. The Patriots are 16-1-1 with a No. 12 ranking in the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association 4-A poll. The Vikings are 16-0-2 with a No. 9 ranking in the 3-A poll. Both teams lead their respective conference standings.
"We're working hard trying to get ready for it," Stewart said during a practice break on Tuesday. "We don't want to look past our other games, but Oct. 13 has been in our heads for a long time. We're ready for it."
The Patriots enjoyed the advantage of the run of play in last year's game, but the issue wasn't decided until then-senior Travis Grasso scored the second Patriot goal with about four minutes left in the match.
"I think it's going to be fun, all of the ingredients are there," says Pinecrest coach Larry Martin, "You have two quality teams and it's SYSL Night, so we'll have all the kids showing up to add to the atmosphere. There are bragging rights for the county and that kind of stuff. I'm anticipating a wonderful night of soccer."
Unlike last year's game that was played on a Saturday, this one will be competing against a home football game at Union Pines and an away football game for Pinecrest. During the week, there was talk of switching the soccer game to Saturday.
"I guess we wanted to be a little more football friendly and play it on Saturday," Union Pines athletic director Dale Buie said Wednesday. "It was late in the game what with arrangements for officials and things. It should be a great game between two great teams. We'll show up and play and give 100 percent."
The coaches and players expect the size of the crowd to be swelled by SYSL parents and players. Youth soccer players accompanied by one of their own parents and wearing a team shirt will be admitted for free.
The majority of the players on both sides cut their soccer teeth in the SYSL, a league that has just under 1,000 youth participating this fall on some 80 recreation, Challenge and Classic division teams.
Martin and Union Pines coach Chris Hadlock have both coached in the league and Martin is currently the supervisor of officials.
"Jordan Howlett, Matt Sessoms, Coby Kavanaugh, I enjoy them all -- they're all good friends," Hadlock said, referring to some of the Pinecrest players he knows.
Viking midfielder Jordan Mebane began playing in the SYSL at the age of 8 after moving to the area from Burlington. Last spring, he was a member of the SYSL Thunder, a team made up mostly of Pinecrest players, including Stewart.
"I believe there are a lot of kids out there that look up to us," he says. "It helps them see what they can reach in the future."
Both coaches agree that a win might mean more to Union Pines, a lower classification school with a shorter history of playing high-level soccer. The Vikings are closing in on a second straight Cape Fear Valley Conference title, while the Patriots are going for their 10th in a row.
Both teams have been involved in tie games recently. The only loss by either team was Pinecrest's 3-0 defeat at Fayettteville Academy in a match that was called early in the second half because of stormy weather.
Stewart thinks that early-season contest was a turning point for his team.
"We had a little team meeting at halftime where the coaches left us to talk about it," he recalled. "Then on the bus on the way back, we decided that was the last time this team was going to lose. We finally realized we each have our own little job that we have to take care of. Each player is realizing what that is and helping each other reach our goals -- to go as far as we can in the playoffs."
Union Pines played to a 1-1 tie at Harnett Central on Monday. At practice on Tuesday, Hadlock reminded his players that the team has a bull's-eye on it each time it plays because of its record and ranking.
He thinks the timing of tonight's game is perfect.
"It gives both teams a good test late in the year," he says. "It's definitely going to be a playoff atmosphere."
The junior varsity contest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Pinecrest is 11-1-1 and Union Pines is 10-2-1.
"It's a very hyped-up game among the players," Mebane says. "There are lots of conversations throughout the school about who's saying what. Last year it wasn't a favorable outcome for us. We definitely want to have a different ending to this year's game.
"Both teams are really going to want to bring home the win. Hopefully it will be a great game for everybody."
- Charlie Bergman, Staff Writer, The Pilot
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Season:
Goals Scored: 90 Goals Allowed: 16 Overall Record: 16-1-1 Conference Record: 10-0-0
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