Ashbrook clinches Big South soccer title

GASTONIA — It’s Ashbrook’s turn.

After four straight years of Forestview domination, the Green Wave has wrested the Big South Conference soccer title from its biggest rival, clinching the championship with a 2-0 win over the home-standing Jaguars Wednesday at Joe Alala Stadium.

“Playoffs matter. Gazette Cup matters. But my main goal has been to win a conference title,” Ashbrook senior Sebastian Zuluaga said. It’s a dream come true, honestly.”

Cooper Johnson scored on a breakaway in the 60th minute and Juan Villa added a late penalty kick to keep Ashbrook (13-2-1, 10-0 Big South) undefeated in the conference with two games remaining. At worst, Ashbrook would have to share the title with Hunter Huss.

“The boys have worked hard all year and we stayed consistent,” Ashbrook coach Joel Webb said. “We keep getting better and that’s what you’re supposed to do. We didn’t play the best game tonight, but we got the result that we wanted.”

Forestview (10-7, 6-3) won the first meeting 2-0 in the Gazette Cup championship game but Ashbrook has reeled off 12 straight wins since, including a 4-2 defeat of Forestview three weeks ago.

The Green Wave now tries to finish out a perfect league record with Big South games next week against Hunter Huss (Wednesday) and North Gaston (Thursday). First, the Green Wave will deviate from conference action as it travels Monday to face St. Stephens, the state’s No. 6 team in the 3A ranks.

Ashbrook, No. 12 in the latest N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3A poll, broke a scoreless tie with 20 minutes remaining when Zuluaga sent a deep ball to Johnson, who sped past the defense and touched it over the keeper’s head into the net.

“We just caught the defense off guard and it was just a great ball (from Zuluaga),” Johnson said.

Said Zuluaga: “I saw him making a run past a couple of defenders. So it’s like a quarterback. If you see your wide receiver run past a couple cornerbacks, you’re going to throw it deep. That’s pretty much what I did and it wasn’t all on me. He had a great finish, too.”

Forestview had a great chance to tie the score at 1 with 10 minutes remaining when Justin Henry crossed the ball just in front of the goal, but nobody was in position to shoot and Ashbrook safely cleared the ball out of harm’s way. Moments later, Villa iced the game with his penalty kick with less than eight minutes remaining.

The game officially ended Forestview’s four-year reign of the Big South. The Jaguars, who had also won six league titles in the last seven years, needed a win Wednesday and some help next week to have a shot at another trophy. Now, they’re playing for second place with a big game at Hunter Huss on Monday, then a pair of home games against North Gaston (Tuesday) and Kings Mountain (Wednesday) to close out the regular season.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished (with past teams) and I’m still proud of what we’re accomplishing this year,” Forestview coach David Shearer said. “We’re in a growing process as a team. You can’t win every game. You just have to keep moving forward and have a positive attitude.”

Ashbrook outshot the Jaguars 14-10. Billy Baucom had six saves for Ashbrook. Forestview’s Anderson Gibbons saved 12 shots.

Remaining schedules

Forestview — Monday at Hunter Huss; Tuesday vs. North Gaston; Wednesday vs. Kings Mountain

Ashbrook — Monday at St. Stephens; Wednesday vs. Hunter Huss; Oct. 29 at North Gaston