New Hanover Finishes Amazing Soccer Season

With less than two minutes left in the game and his team down by one goal, junior goalkeeper Clayton Adams was asked to keep his teams hopes alive by saving a penalty kick by Myers Park of Charlotte. Adams came up big, like he has done all season, as he dove to his right and made a tremendous save.

It was time for his teammates to step up and get the equalizing goal. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they were unable to get another scoring chance and came up one goal short of winning the state championship.

Even with the nerves and emotion of trying to win their schools first men’s soccer championship, New Hanover came out strong and determined to get the game's first goal. Their aggressiveness paid off when senior Parker Antis received a pass up the left side from junior Ross Tomaselli and put it away into the back of the Myers Park goal in the 12th minute of the game, giving the Cats a 1-0 lead.

With all of the New Hanover fans who made the trip to Raleigh making it feel like a home game for the Wildcats, they kept their lead until the 25th minute of the first half. Justin Davis of Myers Park received a pass in front of New Hanover’s net and made a spectacular shot to tie the game 1-1.

Both teams battled hard and it looked like the game would go to halftime tied until Brendan Kelley of Myers Park gained possession of the ball right in front of the Wildcats goal and beat NHHS goalkeeper Adams with three minutes remaining until intermission. The goal gave the Mustangs a 1-2 lead at halftime and all of the momentum going into the second half.

The second half started much different than the first, as Myers Park took control of the game. With the pressure now on the Wildcats to get the equalizer, the Mustangs made it difficult for New Hanovers playmakers senior forward Brannon Blanke and junior midfielder Ross Tomaselli to get any quality chances on goal.

With tewnty minutes left in their dream season Coach Al Pastore of the Wildcats now had to find a way to put more pressure on the Mustangs defense . Pastore decided to move senior Gentry Johnson up from his sweeper position to more of an attacking offensive position. His decison paid off as his team began to posses the ball much more in the Myers Park end of the field but it also left the Wildcats defense vulnerable. The play on the field began to get very hectic and Casey Caronis of Myers Park was able to find the back of New Hanover's net and put his team up 1-3 with ten minutes to go. New Hanover could feel their dream season slipping away and just over a minute later Myers Park was able to get another shot pass NHHS keeper Clayton Adams and take a 1-4 lead.

Amazingly, New Hanover kept on fighting and were able to score at the 75th minute mark as senior defender C.J. Pennock took a pass from Gentry Johnson at the six yard box and put it away to make the score 2-4. As the tension began to rise on the field and in the stands a red card was given to a Myers Park player with a little over 3 minutes to go in the game and gave New Hanover a free kick just over the half line. Ross Tomaselli took the free kick and tried to direct it in front of the Mustangs goal hoping one of his teammates could get their head on it. As the ball sailed into the Mustangs box none of the Wildcats were able to get a head on the kick and amzingly none of the Myers Park players could stop Ross’s kick from going straight into the back of the net and putting New Hanover just one goal down from making an amazing comeback.

The clock was then ticking down faster than any other part of the game, and the Wildcats were unable to get another chance on the Myers Park goal. With their bodies exhausted and their hearts strew out all over the field, they now had to watch as the Mustang players celebrated their schools first men’s soccer state championship. With the win, Myers Park completed an undefeated season of 25-0. New Hanover ended their magical season with a 23-3-1 record.

Story and photo by Chris Miranda

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT