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Bulldogs run table in SPC

Photo by James Nix

Jay M. Robinson's Gabriel Pastrana (17) and Hickory Ridge's Alex Daniels (11) fight for the ball Wednesday night in Harrisburg. Robinson won the game 3-2.

By Steve Winzenread | Independent Tribune

Published: October 29, 2009

HARRISBURG — Hickory Ridge could tie the score against Jay M. Robinson, but the Ragin' Bulls couldn't stay ahead of the Bulldogs.

The result was a 3-2 win for Robinson on Wednesday, giving the Bulldogs a perfect 14-0 record in the South Piedmont 3A Conference this season going into next week's NCHSAA soccer playoffs.

Robinson (18-2-1 overall), playing its third game in as many days, grabbed a 1-0 lead on Eddie Navarro's unassisted goal in the ninth minute.

At that point, it looked like the Bulldogs were headed for something similar to their earlier 4-0 win over the Bulls.

But it was Senior Night at Hickory Ridge, and the home team did not intend to make it easy for their county rival.

Matt Abbott tied the game, scoring in the 26th minute.

Fourteen seconds later, Robinson was ahead again when Angel Rebollar took a long ball from Ben Shamanis and scored.

Robinson held the 2-1 lead at halftime after outshooting the Bulls 13-4 in the opening 40 minutes.

The two teams were in a scoreless struggle in the second half before Alex Daniels scored off Chris Schaffner's assist to tie the game 2-2 in the 72nd minute.

But like an instant replay, Robinson scored 32 seconds later on the same Shamanis-to-Rebollar counterattack.

"There's a saying I learned at a coaching clinic," said Robinson coach Michael Hoke. "Five fives. There are five times in a game where you are most likely to score or give up a goal — at the beginning and end of each half and after any goal."

Said Hickory Ridge coach Scott Wolfe: "Give Robinson credit for that. A great team when challenged answers. That's exactly what they did. We certainly gave them every challenge we could. They got the ball to the right players and give them credit on that."

Hoke gave Hickory Ridge kudos as well.

"It was their Senior Night," he said. "They were playing for pride. They came out and wanted to salvage the season by sticking it to us, which is what I would have wanted to do if I was them.

"They did a great job. They took us out of our game. They hustled. They set the pace.
"I think we came in just a little bit cocky, thinking it was going to be like all the other games, just finish out the season, no problem, walk home. It doesn't happen that way."

Hickory Ridge goalkeeper Drew Andreotti made 10 saves (five in each half) on 23 shots, while Robinson keeper Andrew Alvarado had five saves (four in the second half) on 12 shots.

"I'm very pleased with the way we played," Wolfe said. "Our guys certainly left it on the field. We came together a little bit tonight more than we've seen the last couple of weeks, which is a good step heading toward playoff time."

Robinson won the MECA 4A title a year ago.

While Robinson owns the top seed from the SPC for the 3A playoffs, Northwest Cabarrus is No. 2, Concord No. 3 and Hickory Ridge No. 4. A fifth SPC team also makes the state playoffs, which are scheduled to start next Wednesday.

Concord beat Hickory Ridge in the final seconds on Monday.

In Wednesday's junior varsity game, Robinson won 2-0 on goals by Chris Holden and Eric Hugunin.
Baylor Koch and Alexis Rodriguez had assists, and Alex Bogart was in goal for the shutout.
The Robinson jayvees finished the season 10-5-2.