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ELIZABETHTOWN – Rosewood, the defending NCHSAA Class 1A Eastern Regional champions, outscored East Bladen 3-1 Monday night in non-conference boys’ soccer action.

Rosewood went up 1-0 with under 20 minutes to play before halftime. “We weren’t organized on a transition and did not get our wing back to help our backs,” said Eagle Coach Jay Raynor. “They made us pay for that.”

East junior Gabril Algozy was fouled in the box, and junior Fernando Rebollar drilled the penalty kick low and into the corner of the net to tie the score 1-1.

“We committed a silly foul in the box to give them a PK and they went up 2-1 5 minutes before halftime,” noted Raynor. “We had their winger stopped, but one player went after the ball and the other ran him over from behind. Situations like that show our youth. We needed to get out of the half tied.”

The teams played basically even after halftime. “Rosewood took advantage of our three back system and time and time again were able to find the backside winger wide open,” stated Raynor. “We weren’t getting enough pressure on the ball and were allowing balls to be dumped in.”

“Their third goal was a miscommunication as well as a lack or organization on a corner kick,” said Raynor. “We didn’t stand over the ball as we should. We allowed their player to beat us to the ball and several players stopped and assumed the other was going to clear the ball.”

Raynor continued, “We are getting better but we played good enough to get a tie out the game. Our keepers made stops they shouldn’t have to make. They kept us in the game and honestly, they as well as the backline should have had a clean sheet tonight. Lee (Barnes) kept us in the game early and Fernando came in and did the same. Those two are two of the best (goalies) and bring so much to our team.”

Rosewood outshot the Eagles 24-9. “I thought we did a better job of generating set pieces,” said Raynor. “We earned numerous set pieces but we weren’t able to convert them. We will become more efficient on those.”

Raynor concluded, “Our effort was much better tonight than it has been. Our fitness is improving, and our play is as well.”

The Eagles, now 1-2, will play Henderson Collegiate Saturday at 1 p.m. in the NC Soccer Coaches Association Kick-off Classic at the WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary.