Three Big South teams still alive in soccer playoffs

After a pair of first-round upsets Wednesday, three Big South 3A Conference teams are still alive as the state soccer playoffs continue Saturday.

Big South champion Ashbrook, No. 3 seed Forestview and No. 4 seed South Point all won their first-round matches Wednesday and two will be at home Saturday.

Ashbrook (17-2-1), the No. 9-ranked team in this week’s N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3A state poll, will defend its home turf against sixth-ranked Hickory (24-1) at 6. The Red Tornadoes’ only loss was a 1-0 setback to St. Stephens, a team Hickory later beat 2-1 and Ashbrook defeated 1-0. The Green Wave barely survived the first round, scoring two goals in the final five minutes to beat Freedom 3-2.

Forestview (14-7-1), which upset Appalachian Athletic No. 1 Tuscola, earned a second-round home game thanks to Fred T. Foard’s upset of Patton. The Tigers (14-7-1) are the No. 3 seed out of the Northwestern Conference. That game will begin at 6:30.

Fourth-seeded South Point (9-10-1) pulled off perhaps a bigger upset by knocking off South Mountain Athletic No. 1 R-S Central 1-0. The Red Raiders still must travel for the second round as they face Appalachian Athletic No. 2 East Henderson (10-7-3) at 3.

In Class 2A, East Lincoln (17-6-1) advanced to face East Davidson (15-6-1) Saturday at 7, and Lincolnton (13-3) will travel to Cuthbertson (15-4-1) Saturday at 6.

Saturday's second-round pairings

Class 3A

Hickory (24-1) at Ashbrook (17-2-1), 6

South Point (9-10-2) at East Henderson (10-7-3), 3

Fred T. Foard (14-7-1) at Forestview (13-8), 6:30

Class 2A

East Davidson (15-6-1) at East Lincoln (17-6-1), 7

Lincolnton (13-3) vs. Cuthbertson (15-4-1), 6