Rosewood and Princeton met for the third time on the soccer pitch Thursday evening.
And while it is always difficult to beat the same team three times in one season, Rosewood jumped out to an early lead and flew over the Bulldogs.
The Eagles defeated their arch-rivals 3-0 and won their third game in a row.
“I think Princeton has been getting better as the year has gone on, and it’s hard to beat a team three times,” Rosewood head coach Eddie Maldonado said. “The hard part is keeping the boys focused before we get to the playoffs and conference championship game, but they’re doing a good job.”
Rosewood (6-3-1 overall) got on the board in the seventh minute when after a long pass from Reece Gery, Aaron Zamora fired the ball into the net.
In the 36th minute off a throw-in by Shane Smith, Hector Gutierrez worked inside the box and scored to make it 2-0.
“I told the boys ‘our job going forward is to what we’re supposed to do,’” Maldonado said. “We have to play our style of game, play as a group and work hard. As long as we do those things, we’ll be fine.”
Princeton rebounded in the second half, but the Bulldogs could not capitalize on their scoring opportunities.
After a handball inside the box, McKinley Uzzell lined up to take the penalty kick, but the Bulldogs watched as Rosewood goalie Benjamin Peacock made the save.
Gery capped the scoring for the Eagles in the 49th minute when he scored off a penalty kick.
“Princeton plays hard,” Maldonado said.
The Eagles host Lakewood on Monday for their regular-season finale and they are focused on the Carolina 1A Conference Championship game against Hobbton.
The Eagles are 0-2-1 against Hobbton this season, but they hope the fourth time will be the charm.
“It’s easy to get up for Hobbton, and seems like with Hobbton that we can’t beat them this year,” Maldonado said. “But they’ve been the best team in the conference for the last couple of years, and if you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
“So, the big thing is let’s handle our business against Lakewood, and let’s play well against Hobbton.”
