Cary clips Fuquay-Varina boys soccer
After running the gauntlet by recently playing three of the top four teams in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference standings, the Cary boys soccer team got its swagger back, scoring two unanswered goals take down Fuquay-Varina 2-1 Thursday night.
“It was a fair result to us … and I attribute that to the second half,” Cary coach Mike Dunphy said. “We put two of our senior guys in the middle of the park, George (Bournazian) and Noah (Bagherpour), typically wing players, we needed an engine in the middle … and they did well.”
It took Fuquay (3-12, 1-9) only six minutes to take an early lead, converting on its first shot of the night. Caz Dabrowski streaked down the right sideline and created enough separation to deliver an excellent ground cross to Austin Laprad, whose one-timer strike buried itself in the back of the net.
Forty-four minutes later, the Imps (6-9, 3-6) finally struck back after being unable to score on their first six shots on goal, when Quinn Dunphy slipped the rebounded ball in from close range.
In the 69th minute, Carlos Perez made the Imps’ depth presence felt, coming off the pine to knock in Cary’s second unanswered goal, one that proved to be the game-winner.
“I saw the cross coming in, I waited for the ball coming in the middle and didn’t even think about it,” Perez said.
Turning point
Perez’s game-winner kept the Imps playoff hopes alive, which may prove to be a turning point in Cary’s season.
“We have a chance of getting a wild-card, we’re four or five wins from possibly getting in,” Dunphy said. “This senior class has never seen the playoffs and that’s our goal.”
They said it
“Doesn’t matter if you start or not, you leave everything out on the field and help the team and help yourself, too,” Perez said.
Three who mattered
Caz Dabrowski, Fuquay-Varina: Dabrowski assisted the Bengals’ first goal and was the focal point of Fuquay’s offensive wing play.
Cole Slater, Fuquay-Varina: Slater was a bright spot on defense for the Bengals, using powerful slide tackles to stall the Cary offense in the first half.
Luke Griffin, Cary: Despite not seeing his name make the box score, Griffin’s crosses created opportunities for both Cary goals.
By the numbers
30: Minutes between Fuquay’s first and second shots on goal.
7: Saves by Fuquay goalkeeper Nick Junkin.
This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Cary clips Fuquay-Varina boys soccer."