Cap-8 Conference sweeps boys soccer challenge against the Southwest Wake Athletic

The Cap-8 came out the clear winner in the first and possibly last Cap-8/SWAC Challenge with its boys soccer teams taking all three games in the showcase at Millbrook.

Leesville Road downed Holly Springs 3-1, Broughton handled Middle Creek 5-2 and Millbrook defeated Apex 4-1.

The current SWAC and Cap-8 teams will be split into four conferences with yet-to-be-determined names, although the Cap-8 will likely be the Cap-7. The hope is the event will continue, even if the leagues involved have to change a bit.

“We’re still trying to figure out the landscape of what Wake County soccer is going to look like, but anything to celebrate high school soccer and the level of high school soccer in this area, it’s almost a responsibility of ours,” Millbrook coach Matt Edwards said. “I want to give back to keep these kids excited about high school soccer. When you have so many ways to get into college or to play at another level, high schools get pushed further down the totem pole. Ways to get them excited and reward that sacrifice, we want to keep doing it.”

LEESVILLE ROAD

The Pride hopes it has some good vibes going as the defending Cap-8 champs start conference play begins. Leesville went 2-0 on the week, defeating Rolesville 7-0 as well.

Early-season losses to Middle Creek, Green Hope and Cardinal Gibbons could be paying off at the right time.

“We’ve had some tough sledding early on in the season. We hope the strength of schedule we’ve played will be helpful,” longtime Leesville coach Paul Dinkenor said.

The Pride (3-4-1) was sharp against Holly Springs, winning the ball off the Golden Hawks with ease. Robert Bailey had a brace in the victory Saturday and Luca Menozzi added the other.

“Whatever we are, we’re in shape. ... We really had a focus on moving with the ball, cutting down the number of touches ... and I thought it paid off the ball,” Dinkenor said. “We did not hog the ball, we did not over-dribble, we had vision and we exploited the space.”

HOLLY SPRINGS

The Golden Hawks (4-5) were without head coach Joey Will, who was attending a wedding, and looked like a team that was playing its third game of the week in 90-degree heat.

Holly Springs is also facing an important stretch of the year with a thin bench. The Hawks had just four field players available.

“They’ve been frustrated but they’re adjusting to it,” first-year assistant coach Wally Trevino said. “It’s definitely hard – less breathers and more tired legs. We’re trying to push through it.”

BROUGHTON

The Captials (6-0-1) hadn’t played a game in almost a week and a half and were ready for action, scoring early and often against Middle Creek.

“We had a game canceled last Thursday and it’s been 10 days since we had played and the guys were chomping at the bit, sick of practicing, ready to go against somebody else,” Broughton coach Craig Brannon said. “Sometimes that can go the other way, but we’ve been battling each other.”

Brannon has a “good” problem to have with this year’s group. He can go deep into his bench, playing 18-20 players and having very little drop off. He knows Cap-8 play may be the time to settle into a smaller rotation, but has to weight the pros and cons.

“I think we’re going to have to (use fewer reserves) at some point just to kind of keep rhythm, but it’s really what the game dictates,” Brannon said. “But the other thing you have as a coach, you always have in the back of your head that guy that comes to every practice: ‘Can we get him in without necessarily affecting the game and letting him develop? Or an underclassman?’”

MIDDLE CREEK

The Mustangs (6-1-1) were coming off its first tie of the year, a 3-3 result against Cary. Middle Creek went to the 4-3-3 late and got another goal, a 30-yard golazo from Manny Almendariz to pair with Alex Arroyo’s early goal.

“We’re still young, we’re still trying to pick up the pieces,” coach Guy Coleman said. “We’ve got some injuries we’re dealing with and we’re trying to fill those gaps. It’s a tough loss for us – we think we’re better than we played.”

APEX

It was the most goals the Cougars (3-2-1) have allowed in a game this season, and part of that had to do with not winning 50-50 balls, something coach Kevin Todd knows his team will focus on as it returns to Southwest Wake 4A play. Apex is 3-0-1 in the league.

“The whole game is about 1-on-1 battles and we’re just a step slow in a lot of those 1-on-1 battles and we need to be more consistent and less sporadic,” Todd said. “As a team, (we need) understanding and learning the tactical play of team defense.”

MILLBROOK

The Wildcats (7-1) showed some mental toughness after giving up a tying goal late in the first half. Millbrook came out a determined and focused group, which shows maturation from the past two years.

“If we get scored on it’s not the end of the world. The previous two years with these guys? One and done,” Edwards said. “I don’t know if it’s mental strength with maturity or if they’ve rallied around each other because they know each other so well .. but this group seems to rally around their captains Jose Garcia and Michael Pasca. .. They’re just such demanding guys in a way that I can’t be.”

Millbrook got goals off throw-ins, an intercepted back pass and a standard run-of-play goal from Pasca (2), Garcia and Harrison Clark.

“What I learned is we can create goals in different ways,” Edwards said.

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Cap-8 Conference sweeps boys soccer challenge against the Southwest Wake Athletic."