Gazette Cup: Ashbrook, Red Raiders to meet in title game

LOWELL — Ashbrook and South Point took different paths, but both reached their destination, taking victories Thursday in fourth night action at Poston Park and advancing to the championship game of the Gazette Soccer Cup.

Both teams needed shutout wins with significant goal differentials to squeeze out last year’s champion, Forestview, which had already accumulated eight points in the tournament with two shutouts wins. Ashbrook routed North Gaston 9-0 in the opener to easily qualify for the championship, but South Point’s 3-0 win over Gaston Day in the nightcap wasn’t nearly as easy.

“They had several good opportunities,” South Point coach Gil Aquirre said of the Spartans. “One (opportunity) is more than I’m comfortable with. We needed the three goals. Once we got to that point, we were able to play more possession, but it was still hard on my heart.”

Aquirre is glad to have made it through the difficult tournament format which puts pressure on teams to not only score a lot of goals but defend as well.

“Saturday will be different,” Aquirre said. “It’s a lot less pressure to win those early games. You’re not worried about the goal differential or the shutout in the finals. You just go out and play your game.”

But Aquirre knows it will have to be a better game than the Red Raiders played against Gaston Day if his team is going to knock off the powerful Green Wave.

“Ashbrook is going to be a tough opponent,” Aquirre said. “We’re definitely going to have to possess the ball better.”

Green Wave coach Joel Webb said his team was hungry from the beginning.

“In terms of wanting to get back to the finals, this was our goal for the week,” Webb said. “We’ll have different goals next week because we’re taking it a week at a time. But our seniors especially wanted to play in the championship game again.”

Ashbrook 9, North Gaston 0

The Green Wave scored early and often in its rout of North Gaston, led by Casey Frey and Juan Villa.

Frey scored the first goal of the game five minutes in on an assist from Villa. He also scored in the 30th minute on a penalty kick and had an assist just before the end of the half to Richie Hernandez. Villa had his second assist of the night when Chris Dodds scored in the 17th minute and pounded in an unassisted goal of his own ten minutes later.
Marc Del Castillo, Ross Taylor, Jake Rankin and Daniel Hilton also scored for Ashbrook, but it was the effort of his defense that had Webb excited.

“The back line and the goal keeper did their jobs,” Webb said of Carlos Loazia, Luke Glover, Connor DeHaven Bryan Hueso, Ovie Sido and keeper Josh Cloyd. “We’ve got a 10th grade keeper, but he was stellar. He’s had two shutouts.”

But despite the lopsided victory, Webb was coaching hard until the end.

“It’s really nerve-racking,” Webb said. “We made some mistakes, but they didn’t cost us. But one big one would have kept us out of the finals.”

So just how good is the Green Wave this season?

“We’re as good as we want to be,” Webb said. “If they play like they’re capable of playing, this can be a very good year.”

South Point 3, Gaston Day 0

South Point had to dodge a couple of scares against Gaston Day, but got two goals in the second half from Colby Stephens and held on defensively to set up a rematch of the 2008 Gaston Cup final.

Zack Ray gave the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead on a breakaway goal in the 23rd minute and that score held for the rest of the half. But it almost all came crashing down for South Point in the 43rd minute as Gaston Day forward Charlie Bridger found himself open just 12 yards from the Red Raider net.

Bridger squared and fired from near point-blank range. But South Point keeper Drew Dove made a trusty two-handed save to preserve the lead.

The Spartans almost scored again in the 67th minute as midfielder Kyle Bonesteel had a free kick from 20 yards out. But the shot sailed just wide of the left side of the net.

“We didn’t play as smart as I would have liked, especially in the second half.” Aquirre said. “We’ll get that corrected.”

Despite the shutout loss, Gaston Day coach Greg Lekavich was pleased with the performance of his team.

“We fought for the whole match,” Lekavich said. “If we had scored that goal early in the second half, it could have been different. But I’m proud of our guys. We gave a consistent effort.”

Even though they’ve lost two straight games, Lekavich thinks his team could be a force later in the season.

“I think we’re actually a pretty good team,” Lekavich said. “We made some atrocious errors, but we’ll be OK. I think we’re going to surprise some people.”

Monday’s results
Forestview 2, Huss 0
Highland Tech 2, E Gaston 2

Tuesday’s results
Ashbrook 6, Gaston Day 0
South Point 5, N Gaston 0

Wednesday’s results
Forestview 4, Highland 0
East Gaston 5, Huss 3

Thursday’s results
Ashbrook 9, N Gaston 0
South Point 3, Gaston Day 0

Saturday’s games
Seventh-place game: Gaston Day vs. North Gaston, 10 a.m.
Fifth-place game: Highland Tech vs. Hunter Huss, noon
Third-place game: Forestview vs. East Gaston, 2
Championship game: Ashbrook vs. South Point, 4