A physically scrappy Lancaster Bruins team couldn’t match the energy and team chemistry the Catawba Ridge boys’ soccer team had as they ran away with a 7-1 win Friday night at The Pit.
The win improved Catawba Ridge to 3-0 in Region 3-4A and 10-2 overall as they had three players score multiple goals for the Copperheads in the win.
“I though we played great,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Phillip McCarter. “I though the first half was a lot of effort and intensity. We finished most of our chances. It was a good first half.”
Catawba Ridge wasted no time getting on the board early as Joshua White opened the scoring for the Copperheads just five minutes into the game. The Copperheads stayed on the attack as they bounced a shot off the top crossbar of the goal about 10 minutes later.
The Copperheads were able to control possession for the majority of the first half not allowing Lancaster really to get the ball past midfield very often. White came back for his second goal of the game near the 19 minute mark to give Catawba Ridge a 2-0 lead.
Seven minutes later James Abramo scored to extend the Copperheads lead as they clearly had the upper hand controlling set pieces and finding the seams and lanes needed to push the pace against the Bruins.
With just under six minutes to go in the first half, Caden Tull found the back of the next to give Catawba Ridge a 4-0 lead going to the locker room.
The second half was just as strong for the Copperheads as seven minutes in Tull again found the goal making it 5-0 with the help of a breakaway down the left side of the field allowing him to rocket the ball past the Bruins’ keeper into the right side of the next.
The Bruins was able to accomplish something that no other region team has been able to do this season and that was score on Catawba Ridge as Lancaster found a good opportunity with about 13:25 left in the game to prevent the shutout for the Copperheads.
That goal led to more physicality from Lancaster as they tried to push the pace, but wasn’t able to find another hole in the Catawba Ridge defense. The Copperheads offensively still had a couple goals in them as Kohen Kozel scored with four minutes left in the game and then Abramo came right back 60 seconds later to put the score at 7-1 for Catawba Ridge.
As the season wears on and the competition gets harder, McCarter said the physicality will be more against Catawba Ridge so it was good to be tested early.
“Hats off to Lancaster,” McCarter said. “This is the best team they have had in a while. They are really scrappy. They work hard. They are a quality side. We came out with a lot of energy. When you score it changes games.”
Catawba Ridge will need to keep that energy up when they travel to Indian Land March 22 for their next contest.
In other games…
The Copperheads girls’ soccer team was just as impressive Friday night being Lancaster on the road 8-0. Scoring goals for Catawba Ridge was Alexa Dubrow (2), Sadie Commerford (2), Kayla Fonseca, Sarah Sexton, Emma Crider and Ally Purcell.
The Catawba Ridge baseball team swept both ends of a doubleheader against South Pointe winning 15-0 in game one and 9-3 in the second game. The Copperheads are 7-2 on the season and 3-0 in Region 3-4A.
The Fort Mill girls’ soccer team beat Gaffney 5-0 to open Region 3-5A play. The win improves them to 7-2-2 overall and 1-0 in the region.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
