Gazette Cup Day 2 roundup: Green Wave, Raiders roll

LOWELL — One scored almost immediately. The other needed a little more time.

Either way, the outcome was about the same for Ashbrook and South Point as they dominated the second day of the Gazette Cup.

Ashbrook eventually got its shots to fall in a 6-0 rout of Gaston Day, and South Point needed only two minutes to net its first goal in a 5-0 victory over North Gaston in the nightcap at Poston Park.

The Green Wave and Red Raiders both earned four points for their shutout victories, putting themselves in great shape to qualify for Saturday’s championship. Another pair of 4-0 or greater shutouts on Thursday (Ashbrook faces North Gaston while South Point takes on Gaston Day) would send both to the championship.

But first, the tournament continues Wednesday with Forestview facing Highland Tech at 6 and Hunter Huss matching up with East Gaston at 8. Tonight’s games will begin to set up Saturday’s matchups since those four teams will conclude group play.

Another shutout win for Forestview would give the Jaguars eight points (three points for each victory, one for each shutout) and put them in the third-place game or championship, depending on how Ashbrook and South Point fare on Thursday. Should those three teams all finish with the maximum eight points, the tiebreaker would go to the teams with the highest net goal difference.

Having opened the tournament with a narrow 2-0 win over Hunter Huss, Forestview could be on the outside looking in when the championship pairings are set.

Ashbrook 6, Gaston Day 0 — Ashbrook outshot the Spartans 37-3 and threatened repeatedly in the early going but couldn’t get a shot to fall until the 29th minute. But the floodgates opened after that, as the Green Wave pulled away over the next 11 minutes for a 4-0 halftime lead.

“It took awhile to get things going, but once we started playing our game, we started getting it done,” junior Conner DeHaven said.

Casey Frey scored three goals (two in the second half) and Juan Villa assisted two for the Green Wave, which is looking to make its third straight championship appearance. Carlos Loazia, Ross Taylor and Ronnie Hernandez added one goal apiece.

Although the ball stayed on Ashbrook’s offensive half of the field most of the game, Green Wave coach Joel Webb saw room for improvement. In fact, he didn’t believe his team dominated possession.

“You can possess and control the game, and we didn’t really control the game in the first half,” Webb said. “We had the ball in their half but it wasn’t in our control.”

Junior goalkeeper Grant Boloyan finished with 22 saves and kept Gaston Day alive for the first 29 minutes but couldn’t hold on forever.

“Despite the loss, I thought we maintained our composure well and we finished the game with some poise,” first-year Gaston Day coach Greg Lekavich said.

South Point 5, North Gaston 0 — Dayton Rogers scored less than two minutes after the opening whistle and Colby Stephens followed suit a minute later as the Red Raiders took command early.

“I think we were really organized to start,” South Point assistant coach Nate Worthington said. “We got off fast and maintained possession and finished strong.”

Rogers finished with two goals and Ben Propst added two of his own for South Point, which is looking to return to the championship game after a one-year hiatus. Nate Propst and Zack Ray assisted one goal each.

South Point led 3-0 at the half, then went up 4-0 moments into the second period when a high-arcing kick by Ben Propst somehow dropped in just below the crossbar. Ben Propst provided the final margin in the 74th minute.

Brandon Alexander saved 12 shots, including a second-half penalty kick to provide a bright spot for North Gaston.

“They always kick it to the left, so I dive to the right,” said Alexander, a sophomore.

Drew Dove logged three saves in goal for South Point.

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

Standings through Day 2

Team                  Record    Pts.

Ashbrook              1-0            4

Forestview            1-0            4

South Point           1-0            4

East Gaston           0-0-1         1

Highland Tech        0-0-1         1

Hunter Huss          0-1            0

Gaston Day           0-1            0

North Gaston         0-1            0

Tiebreakers:

1. Heat-to-head

2. Greatest net-goal difference (maximum four goals per game)

3. Least goals against

4. Most goals (maximum four per game)

5. Penalty kicks

Monday’s results

Forestview 2, Hunter Huss 0

Highland Tech 2, East Gaston 2

Tuesday’s results

Ashbrook 6, Gaston Day 0

South Point 5, North Gaston 0

Wednesday's games

Highland Tech vs. Forestview, 6 p.m.

Hunter Huss vs. East Gaston, 8 p.m.

Thursday’s games

North Gaston vs. Ashbrook, 6 p.m.

Gaston Day vs. South Point, 8 p.m.

Friday — Make-up day, if needed

Saturday’s games

Seventh-place game, 10 a.m.

Fifth-place game, noon

Third-place game, 2 p.m.

Championship game, 4 p.m.