Without shutout, Ashbrook in danger of missing Cup final

LOWELL - Ashbrook will need help if it wants to reach the Gazette Cup final.

The Green Wave opened the tournament with a comfortable 4-1 win over Hunter Huss on Tuesday but missed out on the extra point awarded for a shutout.

Because South Point and Forestview blanked their first opponents on Monday, Ashbrook can only hope that one of those schools gives up a goal - or loses - before group play concludes Thursday.

"It would be nice (if that scenario plays out), but the quality of competition that we played is much higher than the quality of competition that they played their first games," Ashbrook coach Joel Webb said. "Huss played a great game. They played from start to finish."

On a hot day at Poston Park, Ashbrook led 3-0 at halftime and took a 4-0 lead on Kody Frey's penalty kick early in the second half. But Huss (0-1) avoided the shutout when Rey Chegue caught the defense by surprise moments later and netted a goal.

"We just had a little miscommunication and let one in," Webb said. "No big deal."

Ashbrook (1-0) outshot Huss 23-7 and got five saves from Billy Baucom in its first regular-season match. Juan Villa, Casey Frey and Hector Lopez scored the first-half goals with Kody Frey and Steven Valencia assisting one each.

By the time Ashbrook begins its next game, 8 p.m. Thursday against Gaston Day, the Green Wave will know what it will take to reach the championship match, if possible.

Forestview, which beat North Gaston 6-0 in its tournament opener, plays its second group play match Wednesday at 8:30 against a solid Lincolnton team. South Point, which beat Kings Mountain 8-0 on Monday, won't play again until Thursday, when it faces East Gaston at 6.

In other action Wednesday, East Gaston plays Kings Mountain at 5 and Gaston Day meets Hunter Huss at 6:45.