Logan Gilley scored four goals on Wednesday night, including his 50th of the season and 100th of his career, to lead unbeaten East Lincoln past visiting Newton-Conover 7-1 in a third-round state 2A boys’ soccer match between South Fork 2A powers. The Mustangs are at home Saturday for the fourth round, facing No. 4 Shelby (22-0-2)./EAST LINCOLN HIGH PHOTO
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Logan Gilley scored four goals — with his second his 50th of the season and 100th of his career – as top-seeded East Lincoln assured there will be a new West 2A boys’ soccer champion.
Gilley led the Mustangs to a 7-1 home victory over South Fork 2A rival Newton-Conover on Wednesday night at East Lincoln.
It was the third win this year for the Mustangs over the Red Devils, who won the past two West 2A crowns.
Newton-Conover, seeded No. 8, finished 19-4-1.
Gilley joined his brother, Chase, as a 100-goal career scorer. Chase Gilley scored three goals and the brothers each had one assist. Luks Felts had two assists for the Mustangs and Noah Graden, Landon Graden and Blake Swanson each added one.
East Lincoln grabbed an early 3-0 lead on goals by Chase Gilley in the first two minutes, by Logan Gilley in the ninth minute and by Chase Gilley about a minute later.
Goals by Logan Gilley, Chase Gilley and again Logan Gilley had the Mustangs in front 6-0 by halftime.
Logan Gilley’s second-half goal made it 7-0, and the Red Devils’ only score came from Drew Danner.
East Lincoln (25-0-0) faces No. 4 Shelby (22-0-2) at East Lincoln on Saturday in the fourth round, after the Golden Lions advanced with a 3-1 home victory over No. 5 North Forsyth.
The other West 2A match, also Saturday, pits No. 3 Forest Hills (23-3-0) against No. 2 Hibriten (24-1-2).
Forest Hills advanced with a 3-0 home victory over No. 11 Surry Central while Hibriten earned another home match by beating Northwestern Foothills 2A foe West Iredell (12-10-2, No. 23 seed) 6-1 in Lenoir.
The East 2A teams still alive are No. 5 Dixon (22-1-1), No. 1 Ledford (23-1-1), No. 15 Thomasville (17-6-1) and No. 3 First Flight (7-3-1).
No. 2 Hibriten 6, No. 23 West Iredell 1
Joshua Crisp and Gerardo Rodriquez each scored twice, leading the Panthers to a home victory against Northwestern Foothills 2A foe West Iredell.
Jackson Harris and Kevin Rios each added a goal for Hibriten (24-1-2), home on Saturday for a fourth-round match against No. 3 Forest Hills, a 3-0 home winner over No. 11 Surry Central.
3A
No. 12 Hickory 1, No. 20 Cuthbertson 0, OT
Jose Vallecillos scored in the fifth minute of overtime, and Peyton Winkler made a late save as the Red Tornadoes (18-5-3) won at home to reach the fourth round in 3A.
Cuthbertson finished 13-9-1.
Hickory plays Saturday at 6 p.m. at top-seeded Charlotte Catholic (23-0-2) and the winner gets No. 6 Watauga (18-5-1) or No. 2 Concord (24-1-2) on Tuesday in the state semifinals.
The teams still alive in the East in 3A are No. 4 Clayton (18-5-2), No. 1 Jacksonville (19-1-1), No. 3 Burlington Williams (23-3-0) and No. 2 Chapel Hill (20-4-1).
No. 6 Watauga 3, No. 14 Statesville 1
The Pioneers (18-5-1) won in Boone, advancing to a Saturday 5 p.m. fourth-round match at No. 2 Concord (24-1-2), which won 4-1 at home over A.C. Reynolds.
Walker Franklin, David Sprague and Ayden Franklin each scored once for Watauga.
Camilo Restrepo scored for the Greyhounds (13-8-2).
Reilly Riddle had two saves for the Pioneers while freshman Sam Buckner made 13 for Statesville.