Panther Creek strikes early and often, defeats Athens Drive boys soccer
Athens Drive’s football celebration of newly opened Jaguar Park on campus has continued long after the Aug. 19 ribbon-cutting for the season opener.
On a Wednesday, a Holly Springs-Athens Drive girls tennis match on the refurbished courts wrapped up at about the same time the Jaguars’ boys soccer team started their match against Panther Creek.
Despite the welcomed new facility, Panther Creek spoiled Athens Drive’s third home soccer match of the year. The Catamounts defeated the Jaguars 7-2 in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference match.
“It’s been nice to play so many events on campus,” said Athens Drive athletic director Travis Seese. “The kids can walk out the back door of the school for practices and games.”
Last year the girls tennis teams had to travel Pullen Park near the N.C. State campus to play its matches. The boys soccer teams, like football and other sports, were forced into desultory half-mile trek off-campus to Williams Stadium on park land owned by the City of Raleigh.
The Catamounts won their second straight match to improve to 5-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in SWAC play. Athens Drive dropped to 2-4-2 and 0-3-1.
TURNING POINT
Panther Creek led 1-0 in the fourth minute, but the Jaguars soon dug a 2-0 hole three minutes later when senior captain Parker Cross scored his second goal within eight minutes. Cross finished the night with two goals and three assists.
THREE TO KNOW
Noe Varner, Panther Creek: The sophomore midfielder nearly matched Parker Cross with two goals and two assists.
Owen O’Malley, Panther Creek: The freshman forward also found the net twice and contributed an assist.
Sean Boldrin, Athens Drive: The sophomore midfielder got the Jaguars on the board with a goal from right side with 34:09 left in the match.
MORE SCORING
Panther Creek’s Jayden Cross contributed an assist and the final goal on a header from a corner by Liam Camilleri. Athens Drive’s second goal was tallied by Wael Nabih.
THEY SAID IT
“We clicked today, but in the midfield we still have some stuff to work on and back we were a little shaky. We were definitely stronger today. Last game against Friendship we were a little shaky just knocking balls around. Today were cleaner and the finishing touches were there.” – Parker Cross, Panther Creek.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
Athens Drive’s defenders left goalie Rocco Nociti on his own too many times in the opening minutes. He recorded a couple of nice saves, but Cross scored his first goal on a one-on-one from 10 yards out. Nociti got a hand on the ball, but Cross had time to get off a rocket that spun off Nociti and slowly rolled behind him across the goal line.
This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Panther Creek strikes early and often, defeats Athens Drive boys soccer."