North Lenoir Wins Thrilling Match Against South Lenoir
DEEP RUN— In a match that had all the elements of a classic rivalry, North Lenoir's soccer team traveled to Deep Run to face off against South Lenoir, pulling off a 4-3 win that extends their winning streak to 13 games against their local rivals.
A Streak Continued
The Hawks have dominated this matchup for years, with South Lenoir's last win dating back to October 27, 2016. The victory further solidifies North Lenoir's standing in the East Central 2A league, where they currently hold a 2-3 conference record and an overall 7-5 record this season.
Statistical Highlights
North Lenoir
Israel Almanza, who scored a hat trick in the game, averages 0.8 goals per match.
Maddox Smith, who took the decisive shot, averages 0.4 goals and 0.5 assists per match.
Kevin Rodriguez, the goalkeeper, averages 4.1 saves per match.
South Lenoir
U. Carrizales (Jr) contributed one goal and one assist.
B. Navarro (Sr) also scored a goal.
Michael Chavez (So) had 2 shots on goal.
Emilio Salanes (Fr) and L. Espinoza (Jr) shared goaltending duties, with Espinoza making one penalty kick save.
Keeping Composure
North Lenoir Head Coach Chris Evans emphasized the importance of staying focused, especially when the Hawks were making a late-game comeback. "We played a tough non-conference, and I tell the guys don't get rattled. Things are going to happen in soccer. You are going to give up a goal; keep up your composure, and these kids did that tonight," Evans said.
Key Moments
NL Maddox seized an opportunity that came his way, saying, "Opportunity came and I took the shot, and it went in." Israel, who scored a hat trick, credited his teammates for the accomplishment. "It feels good. I scored three goals, but I couldn't have done it without Coach Evans and Maddox, as he assisted on two of my goals," he said.
More Than Just a Game
For Evans, the rivalry win was about more than just the game. "I talked about that before; it's bigger than a regular game. I am from Ohio where you got Michigan and Ohio State; here you have Duke and Carolina. I talked to them about how their families all went to North Lenoir and they all played these guys for years, and it means more to them, not just us but our community. It was a big win for us," Evans elaborated.
South Lenoir's Perspective
South Lenoir Head Coach Jody Turner acknowledged the challenge. "It is a rivalry game; Chris keeps his guys well prepared over there at North Lenoir, and we knew it was going to be a dog fight," Turner said. Despite being down 3-2 at halftime, Turner kept his team motivated. "I just told the guys to keep doing what we do and possess the ball. They did a great job of that, put the ball in the back of the net and tied it up. Unfortunately, with about four minutes to go, the defense broke down, and they made us pay," he added.
Looking Ahead
Turner is optimistic about the future. "We just went through a tough stretch with Wallace, East Duplin, James Kenan; physically, we are just beat down right now. A lot of underclassmen are getting a chance to play; it's all starting to come back together here tonight. Start back next week with a good Jones Senior team and Kinston; I think we are going to be in good shape," he concluded.
Attention all local sports enthusiasts! Do you have insider information on your favorite local sports team? Submit to The Score below and let our team of experts bring it to life. Don't miss out on the chance to share what happened at your local sporting event - submit now and become part of the story!
Neuse News Sports is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to cover all schools, all sports, and all athletes in Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties.
We provide this free sports news by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local sports news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News Sports with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
