Newton-Conover High’s boys’ soccer team celebrates on Saturday after winning the state 2A soccer title at N.C. State./PHOTO, NEWTON-CONOVER HIGH ATHLETICS FACEBOOK PAGE
MORE COVERAGE: Check out the link provided for a celebration video and additional coverage by Michael Christopher of The Observer News Enterprise, the leading print publication for sports coverage in Catawba County — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZf4sjCvsSE
HobbsDailyReport.com
RALEIGH – Sophomore Jon Joplin registered 11 saves and senior Francisco Tapia delivered the goal Newton-Conover High needed on Saturday to win another state boys’ soccer championship.
NEWTON-CONOVER 1
FIRST FLIGHT 0
Joplin withstood 15 shots by First Flight as head coach Angelo Palozzi’s Red Devils won 1-0 to finish undefeated (27-0-2) and capture their third state soccer title.
Tapia, a freshman who was MVP the last time Newton-Conover had played for a state crown – a victory also over First Flight in 2014 – scored in the 58th minute at N.C. State.
A clear out by the Newton-Conover defense left Tapia as the lone forward and at midfield. Outnumbered 3-to-1, he dribbled through the Nighthawks’ rear defenders and worked the ball with his left foot.
Tapia then slotted a low and hard along the ground, just to the left of goalkeeper Stryker Owens for a goal that put the Red Devils up 1-0.
Tapia was named Saturday’s MVP after scoring the only goal.
Owens was in goal for First Flight (21-2) after the Nighthawks’ starting goalkeeper, Lucas Neitherlander, injured his hand in pre-game warm-ups.
Newton-Conover was the South Fork 2A’s champion at 14-0.
The Red Devils’ first state title in boys soccer came in 2007.
N-C FF
10 Shots 15
5 SOG 11
11 Saves 4
12 Fouls 9
1 Corners 1
1 YC 1
0 RC 0
N-C – Francisco Tapia goal, unassisted, 58:00
N-C – Dilan Esperilla shown a yellow card, 69:00
FF – Quinn Douglas shown a yellow card, 70:00