Red Devils still have chance to repeat as state 2A champions
HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Newton-Conover High kept alive a chance at repeating as state 2A boys’ soccer champion on Thursday night, going into overtime to eliminate visiting Shelby 2-1 and advance.
Ben Harris scored six minutes into overtime, lifting the fourth-seeded Red Devils (21-3-1) into Saturday’s fourth round against top-seeded Hibriten (23-0-2) after the Panthers advanced with a 3-0 home win over No. 9 Forest Hills.
The match on Saturday, at Hibriten, begins at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to the West 2A title match on Tuesday against No. 10 East Lincoln (22-3-0) or No. 3 Salisbury (22-2-1).
East Lincoln, second in the South Fork 2A regular season behind Newton-Conover, won 2-1 at No. 2 seed Surry Central while Salisbury nipped No. 11 North Davidson 1-0 in Salisbury.
The state 2A match is at N.C. State on Nov. 17.
Shelby came in with no losses in its previous 20 matches and 17 straight wins.
The Golden Lions (18-4-2) had a 1-0 lead on Silas Goss’ goal in the 19th minute.
The Red Devils tied it in the 59th minute on a goal by Salvador Gomez, and Harris’ game-winner pushed them into the quarterfinal round for the sixth time in seven seasons.
As a top seed, Hibriten would be at home against East Lincoln or Salisbury.
Newton-Conover would be at home against East Lincoln but would play Salisbury at Salisbury in the next round.
No. 1 Hibriten 3, No. 9 Forest Hills 0
Nijat Tahirili scored twice and Kevin Pineda added a goal as the Panthers (23-0-2) won in a 2A third round match in Lenoir.
Tahirili opened the scoring in the 35th minute and scored via a penalty kick for a 2-0 lead. Pineda scored with about 10 ½ minutes to go.
Forest Hills finished 12-12-1.
Hibriten is at home Saturday at 6 p.m., facing defending state 2A champion Newton-Conover for a berth in the West 2A title match.
No. 10 East Lincoln 2, No. 2 Surry Central 1
Tyler Swanson scored with 45 seconds to play, giving the Mustangs two goals in the final three minutes as they advanced to the fourth round in the 2A bracket.
East Lincoln’s Noah Graden scored with less than three minutes to play for a 1-all tie.
Chase Lynch had an assist on both East Lincoln goals.
East Lincoln (22-3) plays Saturday at No. 2 Salisbury, a 1-0 winner at home over No. 11 North Davidson.
If the Mustangs win, they will at No. 4 Newton-Conover or No. 1 Hibriten on Tuesday for the West 2A title.
Newton-Conover beat East Lincoln twice during the South Fork 2A regular season, winning 4-3 in overtime at East Lincoln and 4-3 on penalty kicks on Oct. 14 in Newton.
3A
No. 4 Asheville 1, No. 5 Watauga 0
Justin Fleer scored on an assist by Will Feehan as the host Cougars (23-1-1) eliminated the Pioneers (21-6-0) in the third round of the state 3A playoffs.
Asheville had six shots on goal – two by Fleer – and advances to the fourth round on Saturday at home against No. 9 Marvin Ridge (19-3), a 4-0 home winner over No. 17 A.C. Reynolds.
The West 3A final, on Tuesday, will be the Asheville-Marvin Ridge winner against the No. 18 A.L. Brown (20-4-1)-No 3 Mount Tabor (20-4-1) winner.
