HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Red Devils edge Salisbury, return to state 2A championship match

Goalkeeper John Joplin of Newton-Conover High makes a play on the ball in Thursday night’s West 2A title match against Salisbury at West Rowan High in Mount Ulla. The Red Devils won 4-2 via penalty kicks, repeating as West 2A champs and advancing to face Clinton on Saturday in Raleigh with a chance to take back-to-back state crowns./PHOTO COURTESY OF OBSERVER NEWS ENTERPRISE

HobbsDailyReport.com

MOUNT ULLA – Newton-Conover High will get a bit of rest and then return to the state 2A boys’ soccer championship match after winning another West title on Thursday night.

The fourth-seeded Red Devils finally got on the field after two delays by rainy weather and edged third-seeded Salisbury 4-2 on penalty kicks to keep alive hopes of winning back-to-back state 2A titles.

The match was originally scheduled on Monday night at Salisbury, moved to Wednesday at West Rowan and then delayed by another night by the continuing rains.

Newton-Conover (23-3-1) will face No. 2 Clinton (25-1-0) for the state 2A title at 11:05 a.m. on Saturday at N.C. State. Clinton won the East 2A title by beating No. 1 First Flight 6-5 on penalty kicks on Tuesday night at First Flight.

A year ago, head coach Angelo Palozzi’s team beat First Flight 1-0 in Raleigh to win a state 2A title.

On Thursday night, the Red Devils eliminated the Hornets (24-3-1) in a shootout after the teams tied 1-1 in regular season and had no scoring through sudden death overtime.

Eriq Argrett scored a goal in regulation for Salisbury and Noel Fong scored for the Red Devils.

Dilan Esparilla hit the fourth Newton-Conover penalty kick that wrapped up the title.

Chris Portillo of Salisbury opened the penalty kicks successfully and Amando Castellano converted for the Red Devils.

Josh Faulkner scored for the Hornets and Manny Marquinez hit for Newton-Conover, tying it 2-2 in penalty kicks.

After Salisbury missed on its third try, Jason Agreda scored for the Red Devils and, after the Hornets missed again, Esparilla converted.

Newton-Conover has won 10 straight matches since a tie with Bandys in South Fork 2A play and is unbeaten in its last 18 matches since a 3-2 overtime loss to Bandys on Sept. 12.

Clinton is riding a 17-match win streak after its only loss of the season, 3-2 at Warsaw Kenan on Sept. 10.

MORE COVERAGE: https://www.salisburypost.com/2018/11/16/salisbury-falls-to-newton-conover-in-state-semifinals/

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