Prep soccer: Cougars make it to second week of states

Southwestern Randolph goalkeeper Jonathan Perez controls the ball during a game earlier this season against Randleman. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

SHELBY – Southwestern Randolph won twice last week in the Class 2-A state playoffs for boys’ soccer.

A 4-2 victory at fifth-seeded Shelby last Thursday sent Southwestern Randolph (21-3-1) to the third round for the first time in six years.

Fernando Hernandez had a goal and two assists in the Shelby game. David Lopez Dominguez, Jonathan Lopez and Joe Avina also scored for the Cougars.

No. 12 seed Southwestern Randolph began the playoffs by defeating No. 21 seed Lincolnton 2-0 with Hernandez and Lopez Dominguez both scoring goals.

The Cougars would play two games this week if they were able to win in the third round Tuesday vs. No. 13 seed Lincoln Charter.

** Also in Class 2-A, Piedmont Athletic Conference champion Randleman lost in the first round in a penalty-kick shootout.

Neither team scored through overtime, and then No. 27 seed Monroe topped the sixth-seeded Tigers by a 5-3 count in the shootout.

Randleman (18-7) entered the state playoffs on a six-game winning streak.

** No. 14 seed Trinity was finished after a 1-0 loss at third-seeded Salisbury in the second round. That left Trinity with a 14-6-3 record.

The Bulldogs began by topping No. 19 seed West Stokes in penalty kicks (by 5-3) after neither team scored through 110 minutes.

Class 3-A

Asheboro lost a home game in the state playoffs for the third year in a row. The third-seeded Blue Comets dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 14 seed Cramer.

Asheboro (18-4-2) was the Mid-Piedmont Conference champion.

The Blue Comets, who were a West Region finalist last year, opened this season’s postseason by topping No. 30 seed Foard 2-1 on goals by Tyler Smith and Ozmar Martinez.

Class 1-A

No. 31 seed Eastern Randolph lost by 6-0 at second-seeded Mount Airy, while No. 27 seed Uwharrie Charter Academy fell 6-0 at sixth-seeded Piedmont Community School in first-round games.

Eastern Randolph finished with a 5-13-1 record. UCA dropped to 7-10-2.