With the goal of hosting a playoff game still achievable, C.B. Aycock needed to get a win on senior night against Smithfield-Selma.
Daron Boutte and Adam Cook each scored a goal as the Golden Falcons defeated the Spartans 2-1 in Quad County Conference play.
The victory improved C.B. Aycock’s record to 13-4-2 overall and 9-2-1 in conference play. The Golden Falcons still need a win against Southern Wayne (10-7, 6-7) on Wednesday and a win or tie against Fike (14-1-1, 11-0-1) on Thursday to host a playoff game.
“We want to host a playoff game, so therefore, we have to at least tie Fike and get a win on Wednesday,” C.B. Aycock head coach Dominick Albano said. “I think it’s very capable. Hopefully, we might squeak a win out on Thursday as well.”
The Golden Falcons got off to a great start against the Spartans.
Three minutes into the game, Smithfield-Selma’s Joshua Sanchez-Bermeo came out to contest Boutte’s header. Still, Boutte got around Sanchez-Bermeo, collected the ball, and scored to give the Golden Falcons an early 1-0 lead.
“It’s just pure hustle by Daron. He stayed with the ball and made a good play,” Albano said.
Despite Smithfield-Selma putting the pressure on the Golden Falcons still had a 1-0 at halftime. During halftime, the Golden Falcons honored their five seniors – Marco Bucknam, Cook, Austin Dilda, Colby Thompson and Boutte.
“The seniors have given a lot of effort over the past four years. They’re all tremendous kids with tremendous parents and families,” Albano said. “Great soccer players, and we’re dearly going to miss them next year.”
Pumped up from the senior night ceremony, the Golden Falcons scored their second goal 20 seconds into the second half.
Collin McIver was fouled inside the box, which gave the Golden Falcons a penalty kick. Cook then converted the penalty kick to put the Golden Falcons up 2-0.
The Spartans kept attacking, but Braylan McCoy made a number of great saves to keep the Spartans off the board.
However, in the 65th minute, the Spartans finally broke through when Jesus Vazquez took a free kick that McCoy saved, but Adrian Garcia gathered the ball and scored to make it a one-goal game.
“He (Braylan) made a great save, nothing against him, but none of my defenders stayed with their man,” Albano said. “Smithfield-Selma crashed the goal, and we didn’t.”
For the remainder of the game, the Spartans kept trying to tie the game, but the Golden Falcons held off the Spartans to get the win.
