East Bladen started quickly Monday against Wake Prep Academy, but a pair of own goals, including the game winner in the 72nd minute, cost the Eagles in a 5-4 loss in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A girls’ soccer playoffs.
The homestanding Eagles ended the season 16-2-2, were co-champions of the Waccamaw 1A/2A Conference and were seeded fourth in 1A East for the state playoffs.
Wake Prep Academy, located in Wake Forest, improved to 13-7-1 and advanced to a fourth-round matchup with top-seeded Eno River Academy (18-3-0) scheduled Thursday.
“We started the game and the second half with early goals, putting the pressure on them early in the game and early in the second half,” East Bladen coach Jay Raynor said. “I’m not so sure we believed we could get a result. The energy was off and we just didn’t seem like ourselves. As you advance in the playoffs the lights get brighter and every moment gets larger.”
Jackie Medina-Leal got the Eagles off on the right foot with a goal in the third minute of play, but an East Bladen own goal in the 13th minute along with a Wake Prep goal in the 26th minute gave the visitors a 2-1 halftime lead.
East Bladen tied it at 2-all in the opening minutes of the second when NeNe Ward scored off an assist from Anna Miranda.
Wake Prep reclaimed the lead with a pair of goals a minute apart for a 4-2 advantage.
The Eagles battled back again.
“Our girls fought back several times after being up 1-0 before pulling the game even at 4-4 with 11:27 to play,” Raynor said. “The momentum had shifted. We committed more numbers forward and created some dangerous attacks.
“Down 2-4 we had to make adjustments and we did. More numbers forward caused them to turn the ball over in some bad positions and we capitalized.
“The difference was set pieces. They won the corner kick battle, scoring a goal on a corner (3rd goal). They also put one away on a throw in. We didn’t step to the ball and gave up a tough one on their fourth goal.”
East Bladen’s rally began when Ward scored again off an assist from Medina-Leal in the 65th minute and Gabriela Rebollar connected on a free kicks from 18 yards out in the 69th minute to tie it at 4-all.
East Bladen’s own goal in the 72nd minutes proved to be the difference.
“All and all it was tough,” Raynor said. “The girls wanted to advance to the East Regional. There is no doubt we could’ve. Just one of those nights where the ball didn’t bounce our way that last time.
“Nothing to hang our heads on. Wish it was different, but there are other plans for us.
“We owe a lot to our seniors who gave this program all they had. They are going to be missed and will leave some pretty big shoes to fill,” Raynor said.
Author: Sonny Jones
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