Prep soccer: Asheboro, Randleman surge toward states

Randleman’s Ronaldo Murillo, left, and Southwestern Randolph’s Diego Matias compete during a game earlier this season. Both teams will have home games to begin the state playoffs. (Randolph Record file photo)

Asheboro’s boys’ soccer team is a high seed again in the state playoffs, while Randleman benefitted from a special championship game to climb the seeding ladder.

Asheboro is the West Region’s No. 3 seed when the Class 3-A state playoffs begin.

The Blue Comets (17-3-2) will take on No. 29 seed Foard (7-12-3) in the opening round Monday.

Asheboro completed the regular season by defeating visiting Montgomery Central 2-0 on Wednesday night behind goals from Alexander Arce and Carlos Gonzalez to clinch the Mid-Piedmont Conference championship. The Blue Comets had an 8-2 league record, while Ledford was at 7-2-1.

Asheboro lost 2-1 at Ledford earlier in the week despite a goal from Gonzalez.

The Blue Comets were one of five Mid-Piedmont Conference teams qualifying for the state playoffs.

For the states, first-round games are scheduled for Monday. Winners advance to Thursday’s second round.

Here’s a check on how other Randolph County teams were seeded:

Class 2-A

Randleman topped Southwestern Randolph 2-1 on Thursday night at Wheatmore in n a special first-place tiebreaker game in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Christian Garcia had both Randleman goals in the game. David Lopez scored for Southwestern Randolph. The teams had 11-1 regular-season conference records, splitting two meetings.

So Randleman (18-6) landed the sixth seed with a first-round home game vs. No. 27 seed Monroe (8-11-1).

Southwestern Randolph (19-3-1) was placed as the No. 12 seed, opening at home against No. 21 seed Monroe (8-11-1).

Trinity (13-5-3) made the states as the No. 14 seed, playing at home vs. No. 19 West Stokes (12-6-1) to begin the tournament.

Randleman defeated visiting Trinity 3-2 last Monday and then topped West Davidson 5-0 in Wednesday’s non-conference game. Southewestern Randolph topped host Uwharrie Charter Academy 5-2 on Wednesday.

Class 1-A

Uwharrie Charter Academy (7-9-2) is the No. 27 seed with a first-round date at sixth-seeded Piedmont Community Charter (12-3-4).

No. 31 seed Eastern Randolph (5-12-1) goes to second-seeded Mount Airy (17-0-2).