Laney & New Hanover advance in soccer state playoffs

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover Wildcats ended their season in the state playoffs in 2012 and 2013 with losses against Green Hope High School. On Wednesday night this year’s soccer team was able to get sweet revenge. New Hanover ended Green Hope’s season. The Wildcats defeated Green Hope 3-0. New Hanover will host Laney in the fourth round of the state playoffs on Saturday.

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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Laney Buccaneers shutout Holly Springs High School in the 4-A soccer state playoffs on Wednesday night. Carson Popper scored in the first half for Laney. Wesley Nelson scored in the second half. Laney will face New Hanover on Saturday in the fourth round of the state playoffs. The winning team will earn a spot in the 4-A East Finals next week.

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High School Scoreboard – Wednesday

State Playoffs

Manteo 4
Whiteville 0

First Flight 2
East Duplin 1 in OT

Wallace-Rose Hill 10
Franklin 3

Franklinton 2
SW Onslow 1 in OT

Laney 2
Holly Springs 0 **Click icon to see video

New Hanover 3
Green Hope 0 **Click icon to see video

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CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) – Al Jefferson scored a season-high 28 points and added 10 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat Miami 96-89 Wednesday night to snap a 16-game, regular-season losing streak against the Heat.

Charlotte was winless against the Heat in the LeBron James era, including getting swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by Miami last season.

Kemba Walker had 16 points and seven assists, and Cody Zeller turned in another solid game off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Hornets (2-3), who won for the first time since the season opener.

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 13 rebounds for Miami (3-2). It was Bosh’s fifth straight 20-point game to open the season.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Senior Morgan Kline had seven of her match-high 12 kills in the opening set as UNCW finished off a season sweep of Colonial Athletic Association newcomer Elon, 3-0, on Wednesday at Hanover Hall.

The Seahawks raised their record to 19-8 overall and 9-4 in the league while the Phoenix dropped to 6-23 and 1-12. UNCW finished its home schedule with an impressive 9-4 record.

Kline finished the evening with 12 kills in 27 attacks to pace a Seahawk offense that outhit Elon, .292-.052. Leah Gagliardi added five kills while Meredith Peacock and Kristen Powell chipped in four kills apiece.

Elon was led by Kayla Agae’s 10 kills and seven digs. Setters Ana Nicksic and Sydel Curry combined for 23 assists and Morgan Maner added 10 digs.

Peacock and Sarah Kelly totaled seven blocks apiece as UNCW continued its torrid play at the net with 14.5 blocks on the evening. Gagliardi and Powell contributed four blocks apiece. Peacock moved into a tie for first all-time at UNCW with 323 career block assists with former standout Amy Chilausky (1990-93).

UNCW also chalked up six aces with Alyssa Desjardins recording two aces in addition to her match-high 18 assists.

Up next: The Seahawks open a three-match road stretch to close out the regular season on Friday at conference-leading College of Charleston. First-serve is set for 7 p.m.

Notes: UNCW has won 19 regular season matches for the second straight season … The Seahawks 53 blocks to their credit over their last four matches (4.07/set) … Kline led UNCW with eight digs … The Seahawks held Elon to negative hitting in the third set (6-8-24 (.083)) … Tonight’s attendance was 631, bringing UNCW’s leading average to 445 for the season … UNCW is 12-5 in sweeps … The Seahawks’ four-match winning streak is their third of the season of at least four.

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WILMINGTON, NC(HAMMERHEADS) — Wilmington Hammerheads FC announced today that Carson Porter has been appointed head coach and technical director for the upcoming 2015 USL PRO regular season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“I am honored to continue into this role,” said Porter. “This is a community with a deep passion for the sport of soccer and a love for this club. Our club goals begin with results for the first team, but they go much deeper than that. We hope to inspire our youth players, earn respect in the soccer community with the style we are implementing, and give our players opportunities to reach their goals. We will make every minute on the training field count, we will compete for results in the league, and we will serve our community.”

Porter joined the club mid-season as technical director in support of player personnel decisions, club philosophy, curriculum and preparing training sessions. He also plays a key role working with Hammerheads FC Youth, aiming to provide the best soccer experience possible for the youth of Wilmington.

Porter presumed coaching duties after former head coach David Irving stepped down from the role in August. Under Porter’s direction the team completed their final seven regular season matches with a record of 3-2-2. The team went unbeaten at home during this difficult stretch of the season that included a victory and a draw versus regular season champions Orlando City, a tie against LA Galaxy II in Los Angeles, and a draw with USL PRO Champions Sacramento Republic FC. The strong finish would see the club gain 11 points in seven games, resulting in a playoff berth. Upon assuming the head coaching duties, Porter also made roster moves that included the Major League Soccer loan signings of goalkeeper Brad Stuver (Columbus Crew) and midfielder Corben Bone (Philadelphia Union), as well as adding Toronto FC Academy standout Mark-Anthony Kaye and local product Ross Tomaselli. All four would play significant roles in the final stretch.

“Carson brings a new level of professionalism and energy to the club that we are excited about,” said General Manager Jason Arnold. “He will implement a new culture within the club and our approach and style of play will improve dramatically. His focus on development, not only on the professional side but with the youth brings us in line with our clubs goals. Carson is well respected inside and outside of the game and will represent the Hammerheads extremely well. I am very pleased to have Carson in this role and look forward to long and successful tenure for him with our club. ”

Prior to joining the Hammerheads, Porter spent three years as a technical advisor and national staff coach for the United States Soccer Federation. Porter served as an assistant coach for the U14 and U15 U.S. Youth National Teams and most recently the U18 Men’s National Team. His time with U.S. Soccer proved valuable through travels with various national teams. He participated in international tournaments in Italy, Germany, Portugal and Azerbaijan and was involved with U.S. teams that competed against the likes of Portugal, Mexico, Bulgaria, Sweden and Norway.

Prior to joining U.S. Soccer Porter was involved in the college game. His most successful stint came serving as Jay Vidovich’s assistant coach at Wake Forest University from 2004-2008. During this time, the team went to three consecutive College Cup appearances (2006, 2007, 2008), winning the NCAA National Championship in 2007. For his work, Porter was honored by the NCAA in 2008 as the National Assistant Coach of the Year. He began his collegiate career as a player at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1997-2001.

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RICHMOND, VA (UNCW) — Led by junior forward Katrina Guillou (Bishop Ireton H.S./Fort Washington, Md.), the UNCW women’s soccer team had six players selected to the 2014 All-Colonial Athletic Association women’s soccer team as announced by CAA officials on Wednesday night.

Guillou, who finished the season as the Seahawks’ leading scorer, earned second team notice while sophomore midfielders Moa Jarl (Gothenberg, Sweden) and Kennedy Ulrich (Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada) and junior defender Morgan Leyble (Jacksonville H.S./Jacksonville, N.C.) were honored as members of the third team.

In addition, freshman forward Serenity Waters (East Coweta H.S./Sharpsburg, Ga.) was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team and senior midfielder Allye Mertes (Lake Norman H.S./Mooresville, N.C.) received a spot on the CAA All-Academic Team.

“It is gratifying to be honored by our colleagues and for our players to be honored by their opponents,” UNCW Coach Paul Cairney said. “The challenge now is for all of those players who earned awards to help lead our team going forward in returning to the CAA Tournament and getting a conference title.”

A starter in all 18 matches for the Seahawks, Guillou earned All-CAA honors for the second year in a row after receiving a first team recognition last season. She ranks fourth in the CAA with eight goals while her 18 points rank fifth in the CAA. In addition, she is tied for second in the CAA with three game-winning goals.

Jarl also started all 18 matches for the Seahawks as a sophomore and scored a goal with two assists. She recorded her lone goal of the season in a 7-0 victory over Coastal Carolina on Sept. 15 and posted an assist in Seahawk victories over Wake Forest and Francis Marion.

The fifth-leading scorer for the Seahawks this season, Ulrich started 17 of 18 contests and scored two goals and added three assists. She scored both of her goals in the victory over Coastal Carolina while posting a pair of assists in an 8-0 triumph over Francis Marion on Sept. 13.

Leyble, who earned All-CAA notice for the second year in a row, started 17 matches for UNCW as a junior. She posted her lone goal of the season in the 3-2 victory over Wake Forest on Sept. 5 and tallied an assist in a 4-2 win over UNC Charlotte on Aug. 31.

Waters earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team after scoring six goals, which ranked second on the team. A starter in 7 of 17 contests as a freshman, she recorded a “hat trick” with three goals against Francis Marion to earn CAA Rookie of the Week honors. In addition, she accounted for both UNCW goals in a 2-0 victory over Elon on Oct. 5.

The Seahawks’ lone senior this season, Mertes started all 18 matches for the Seahawks and led the team by playing 1,545 minutes. She scored a goal in the Seahawks’ wins over UNC Charlotte and Francis Marion. An Elementary Education major, Mertes played in 61 matches during her four-year career.

The Seahawks finished the season with a 7-9-2 record, including a 2-6-1 mark in the CAA.