Cape Fear Academy Fall Sports Preview

The Varsity Boys Soccer team opened the Greenfield Cup in Wilson with a 7pm kickoff with the host Greenfield School Thursday (8/14) night. The tournament is a 3 day tournament with 3 games as the Hurricanes play Durham Academy on Friday (5pm), and Rocky Mount Academy on Saturday at 1pm (time changed to 1pm). The Hurricanes went 0-1-2 in the Greenfield Cup last year with ties to Greenfield (1-1), Parrott Academy(2-2), and a loss to Durham Academy (4-1). CFA is led by captains Alex Smith, Mason Hawfield, and Rob Point and return 8 out of 11 starters with Conor Coupeland starting in goal for the fall 2008 campaign. The Hurricanes finished the season last year with 11-9-2 record and a 2nd place finish in the conference behind state runner-up Fayetteville Academy. CFA fell to the O'Neal School (new conference opponent) last year in the first round of the NCISAA playoffs by the score of 3-1. Last year, Alex Smith was named All-Conference and All-State, MAson Hawfield was named All-Conference, and Patrick Ledbetter and Jared Simmons were Honorable Mention All-Conference. Fourth year head MEade McFarlance leads CFA and looks to the experience of his returning team to guide them through another difficult schedule. The Hurricanes face a 21 game schedule and face 10 schools (in 14 different matches) that made the NCISAA, NCHSAA, and NCCSA . CFA competes in the NCISAA and the 6 member CFIC conference with Fayetteville Academy, Fayetteville Christian School, Village Christian Academy, Harrells Christian Academy, and new conference member O'Neal School - 5 out of these 6 schools made the the state playoffs. It will be a tough conference schedule this fall.

The Varsity Volleyball team travels the familiar road to Fayetteville and participates in a 12 team tournament with pool play on Friday night and match play on Saturday. The Lady Hurricanes begin pool play with Village Christian, Rocky Mount Academy, and Cary Christian School. CFA is led by seniors Paige Buffkin and Sarah Barbour. Last year, the Cape Fear Academy volleyball team notched a 12-win season and a winning record for the first time in 4 seasons. CFA's success rested largely on a 4-1 start in August and the Lady Hurricanes went 11-6 in the months of August and September. Paige Buffkin and Sarah Barbour were named all-conference and Christina Carrera and Carissa Corbett were named Honorable Mention All-Conference. Third-year head coach Melissa Everitt and their players are about to embark on a mission to continue to improve and to keep moving forward in the goal of gaining a playoff berth (last appearance in 2004-2005) in the NCISAA tournament. With the experience and strong work ethic of returning players things should heat up and the level of competition for positions on this team will become a real challenge for all of our players. With starting positions up for grabs, Everitt will push players hard in practice and on the court to see which players earn match time. The team has worked extremely hard during the off season to improve their individual skills including participation in a Wilmington city wide summer league with schools like Hoggard HS, Ashley HS, Topsail HS, and Wilmington Christian Academy. Cape Fear Academy volleyball competes in the NCISAA and the 6 member Cape Fear Independent Conference (CFIC). Cape Fear Academy once again has a difficult regular season schedule. The Lady Hurricanes face a 20 match schedule along with one out of town tournament. CFA faces 9 schools( in 13 different matches) that made the NCISAA, NCCSA, and NCHSAA playoffs in the fall of 2007.

Opening at the Greenfield Cup and the Fayetteville Academy Volleyball Tournament provides us an opportunity to open some eyes." "It's a chance to work out some of the kinks and iron some things out for both the soccer and volleyball programs and allows our teams to build chemistry and continuity for the 2008 season.

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT