Prep soccer: Top area seeds show power as states begin

Win Smith of Asheboro makes a move around a West Charlotte player during Saturday’s Class 3A game in the boys’ soccer state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph hold No. 1 seeds for the West Region in the boys’ soccer state playoffs, which began during the weekend.

Both teams will play every game at home through the regional final if they advance.

It was a strong first-round showing for teams from Randolph County, though one team tumbled in an upset loss.

Second-round games were set for Tuesday, with winners playing in the third round Thursday night and then the fourth round comes Saturday.

The quick-fire schedule comes as the start of the postseason was delayed to allow teams in the western part of the state to make up games following the pause in their seasons after Hurricane Helene.

Here’s a look at the rundown:

Class 3-A

Asheboro is atop the bracket, and the Blue Comets looked the part Saturday.

Asheboro hammered No. 31 seed West Charlotte 9-0 as Cam Letterlough racked up five goals. Diego Bustamante and Diego Morales provided two goals apiece, with Bustamante adding two assists.

Asheboro (22-2), which won the Mid-Piedmont Conference, has scored nine goals in seven different games this year.

West Charlotte finished 2-22-1.

No. 12 seed Ledford (12-7-4) and No. 21 seed Montgomery Central (9-9) were the only other teams from the league in the playoffs and they met each other in the first round. Ledford won 2-1.

Class 2A

Southwestern Randolph had a strong postseason opener by drilling No. 32 seed East Rutherford 8-0 as Fernando Hernandez recorded four goals and two assists.

Aaron Avina added two goals and two assists for the Cougars.

East Rutherford dropped to 7-14-1.

Southwestern Randolph and Randleman were co-champions in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

The Cougars were to play PAC member Trinity in the second round.

** Cayden Pugh scored two goals as No. 16 seed Trinity (15-5-3) upended No. 17 seed Surry Central 3-0 to open the postseason. Riley Foster had the other goal.

Surry Central ended up 13-8.

** The big surprise was Randleman falling in the opening round by 1-0 in a home matchup with No. 20 seed Community School of Davidson (9-8-2).

Randleman (15-8-2) had a 10-game winning streak halted.

Providence Grove (11-12-1) slid into the tournament field at No. 31, hoping to get to a .500 record. Instead, the Patriots (11-13-1) lost 5-0 at second-seeded Brevard (18-3-2).

From the PAC, only Wheatmore (3-18-1), a Class 2A team, didn’t make the playoffs.

Class 1A

Both of the PAC’s Class 1A teams played during the weekend.

Uwharrie Charter Academy (8-10) is seeded No. 24 and pulled off a first-round upset by winning 4-1 at ninth-seeded Highlands (11-7-2). Goals from Caleb Golden and Jaydon DeNamur powered the Eagles, who received 10 saves from goalkeeper Victor Nino.

No. 31 seed Eastern Randolph’s season ended with a 6-1 loss to second-seeded Bradford Prep (17-3). Eastern Randolph ended up 6-16.