Big South champ Ashbrook home for soccer playoffs (full area pairings)

Ashbrook’s soccer team hopes its first conference title since 2004 leads to bigger things to come.

After running the table in the Big South 3A Conference with a 12-0 record, the Green Wave (16-2-1) starts the 3A state playoffs at home Wednesday against Freedom (9-10-3).

“These boys understand that a conference title, a 12-0 record in conference doesn’t matter any more,” Ashbrook coach Joel Webb said. “You lose, you go home. The mentality is to take it one game at a time, respect our opponent and go out there and play the way we know we’re capable of playing.”

Hunter Huss, Forestview, South Point, East Lincoln Lincolnton, North Lincoln and Highland Tech also begin the playoffs Wednesday.

Ashbrook hadn’t won a conference title since 2004, when it shared the Big South crown with Forestview. But the Green Wave dominated the Big South this season on its way to a No. 9 state ranking in the latest N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3A poll.

The Green Wave wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s playoffs, when it lost 3-1 in the first round against East Mecklenburg in Class 4A.

Due to this season’s conference seeding priorities, Ashbrook is guaranteed home-field advantage through the first four rounds should it advance. A win Wednesday would likely pit the Green Wave against sixth-ranked Hickory (23-1) on Saturday.

Senior forward Daniel Carvajal leads Ashbrook with 22 goals, 17 of which came in conference play. Sophomore midfielder Juan Villa has scored 14 goals, and sophomore forward Santiago Aspirilla has netted 13. Casey Frey, Matt Conner and Nahim Perez lead a defense that has shut out nine of its 19 opponents and allowed two goals in the last eight games.

“We’re playing like a team,” Webb said. “That’s something that past Ashbrook teams have had a problem with. These guys are jelling real well together, playing unselfish and trying to get everybody involved.”

Big South runner-up Hunter Huss (13-7) begins the playoffs Wednesday at home against Northwestern No. 2 seed St. Stephens (15-6-2), which lost to Ashbrook 1-0 last week. Big South No. 3 Forestview (12-8) travels to Appalachian Athletic No. 1 Waynesville Tuscola (12-5-2). Big South No. 4 South Point (8-10-2) will visit South Mountain Athletic champion R-S Central (10-3-3).

In the 1A bracket, Highland Tech (5-9) snagged the Southern Piedmont’s top seed, earning a home game against wild-card Albemarle (15-4) out of the Yadkin Valley Conference.

Class 2A has Southern Piedmont champion East Lincoln (16-6-1) at home against Bandys (10-8-3), Lincolnton (12-3) at home against West Stanly (11-9-1) and North Lincoln (13-7-1) on the road to face West Davidson (17-4-2).

In Class 4A, East Gaston (8-13) lost its playoff opener 9-1 against Mountain Athletic No. 2 Asheville Reynolds (18-3-1) on Tuesday.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

State soccer playoffs

Wednesday’s first-round pairings

Class 3A

Freedom (9-10-3) at Ashbrook (16-2-1), 7

South Point (8-10-2) at R-S Central (10-3-3)

St. Stephens (15-6-2) at Hunter Huss (13-7), 7

Forestview (12-8) at Tuscola (12-5-2)

Class 2A

Bandys (10-8-3) at East Lincoln (16-6-1)

West Stanly (11-9-1) at Lincolnton (12-3)

North Lincoln (13-7-1) at West Davidson (17-4-2)

Class 1A

Albemarle (15-4) at Highland Tech (5-9)

Tuesday's first-round result

Class 4A

Asheville Reynolds 9, East Gaston 1