Turcios' golden goal carries Hornets

CARY -- The Carrboro boys soccer team's first-ever trip to the state title game hadn't come without adversity.

Twice, they had come from behind to win pivotal playoff games. That resiliency came in handy when the Jaguars fell behind twice more in its 2A soccer title match against Salisbury.

But in the end, Salisbury scored a goal that Carrboro could not come back from.

Salisbury's Emmy Turcios scored with 3:10 left in the first sudden-death overtime period to defeat the Jaguars 3-2 on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park's Koka Booth Stadium.

"It was a game I thought it'd be," Carrboro coach Mark Kadlecik said. "Both teams are very strong in the midfield and up top. It was a high-scoring affair with just a couple of defensive breakdowns, and unfortunately we had more of them."

After a scoreless first half, the 2A West champion Hornets scored the game's first goal just four minutes into the second half.

Carrboro had an answer though, as a deep run by Sam Hickey was rewarded with a long pass by Scott Weathers. The successful long ball caught the Salisbury keeper out of position, and Hickey's shot hit an inside post, but after it crossed the goal line.

The score stayed at 1-1 until the end of regulation, prompting two 10-minute overtime periods played to their completion.

In the first overtime, Salisbury's Michael Brown scored with 3:54 left. Brown's first shot was blocked by a Carrboro defender, but the second one couldn't be stopped.

Hickey and the Jags were again up for the task. Hickey volleyed in the Jaguars' second goal on an assist by Vic Sullivan with 4:17 left in second overtime.

"We've been down before, in the semifinal and the third round, so we knew we could come back," said Hickey, a senior. "Goals happen, so you've got to be able to come back from them."

The first of a possible two 5-minute, golden goal periods was started and Turcios attacked the Jaguars' left flank.

He created a 1-on-1 with Carrboro keeper Joe Maffly-Kipp, and lifted the game-winner to the far right part of the net.

Hickey is one of 10 Jaguars seniors making up the school's second graduating class. They went 24-2-2 this year.

"Throughout the season we worked really, really hard. We only lost one regular season game," Hickey said. "To make it to the finals and then lose 3-2 to a team like that is just incredible."