prep soccer - Randolph Record

24 Nov

Asheboro boys fall in OT of soccer state final

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, State championships

MATTHEWS – Asheboro’s boys’ soccer team had done so much work throughout the season and during the last game of the year that the biggest reward seemed so close. But Blue Comets couldn’t complete the assignment in the Class 3A state championship game, falling to Western Alamance 4-3 in overtime Saturday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. Asheboro held a 3-0 halftime lead, courtesy of goals from Cam Letterlough, Ozmar Martinez and Diego Bustamante in a 20-minute span. Juan Macias provided two assists. “We went into halftime with a three-goal lead,” Asheboro coach Nick Arroyo said. “We came out of halftime…

23 Nov

Southwestern Randolph falls in Class 2A soccer final

Randolph RecordSportsClass 2-A, Fernando Hernandez, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships

MATTHEWS – Southwestern Randolph’s bid for a first state championship in boys’ soccer came up short. The Cougars fell 3-1 in the Class 2A final to Clinton on Friday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. “I thought we represented our school well,” Southwestern Randolph coach Jimmy Walker said. “We just came up short (in the final).” Clinton took the lead in the 17th minute as Holden Spell scored the opening goal off an assist from Chris Zeleya. Just 27 seconds later, the Cougars leveled the score on a goal from Fernando Hernandez. Jonathan Lopez-Degollado supplied the assist. In the 37th minute, Clinton’s…

21 Nov

Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph teams win soccer regionals, head to state finals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships

Southwestern Randolph boys’ soccer players celebrate their victory against Lincolnton in the Class 2A West Region final. (Thadd Sanders / For Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The boys’ soccer teams from Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph will play for state championships Southwestern Randolph (27-2) will take on Clinton (27-2) for the Class 2A title at 7 p.m. Friday. Both teams were top seeded in their respective regions. Asheboro (27-2) will be in the Class 3A final against Western Alamance (24-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday. It’s a rematch from the regular season. The title games will be held at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex…

20 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Fernando Hernandez

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Fernando Hernandez, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph, boys’ soccer Hernandez has been the leading scorer for the Cougars, who'll play in the Class 2A state final. Southwestern Randolph meets Clinton for the state championship Friday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews. Hernandez, a junior forward, had racked up 48 goals through the early rounds of the state playoffs. He also rated second among Southwestern Randolph players with 24 assists. He’s on a similar pace as last season, when he had 49 goals. In 2023, he was named the Offensive Player of the year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Photo: Fernando Hernandez of Southwestern Randolph…

19 Nov

Prep soccer: Blue Comets, Cougars make deep runs in state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Trinity Bulldogs

Asheboro’s Cristian Raygadas, right, makes a move in front of Pisgah’s Fernando Gamez during the third round of the Class 3A state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Boys’ soccer teams from Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph made it to the final week of the season. They hope to make all the way to state championships. Asheboro is in Class 3A and Southwestern Randolph is in Class 2A. Both teams hold No. 1 seeds in the West Region, meaning they would be assigned home games all the way through regional play. The teams play in West Region finals Tuesday…

13 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Diego Bustamante

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Class 3-A, Diego Bustamante, prep soccer, state playoffs

Asheboro, boys’ soccer Bustamante regularly contributes to the Blue Comets’ big offensive numbers. He’s a senior for the top-seeded team in the West Region for the Class 3A state playoffs. At the beginning of this week, Bustamante ranked second on the Asheboro team in goals with 29 and in assists with 28. He had two in each of those categories when the state playoffs began Saturday and the Blue Comets trounced visiting West Charlotte 9-0. In 2023, he was the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. ***** Photo: Diego Bustamante has been a stellar player for Asheboro’s boys’ soccer…

10 Nov

Prep soccer: Top area seeds show power as states begin

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, nchsaa, prep soccer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

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…

07 Nov

Prep soccer: Asheboro, Southwestern Randolph hold top seeds going into state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

Asheboro and Southwestern Randolph hold No. 1 seeds for the West Region in the boys’ soccer state playoffs, which begin this weekend. Asheboro is atop the bracket in Class 3A. Southwestern Randolph is in the same spot for Class 2A. Both teams will play every game at home through the regional final if they advance. First-round games will be held Saturday, with the second round Tuesday. West Charlotte is the opening opponent for Asheboro (22-2), which won the Mid-Piedmont Conference. No. 12 seed Ledford (12-7-4) and No. 21 seed Montgomery Central (9-9) are the only other teams from the league…

07 Nov

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Riley Foster

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, prep soccer, Riley Foster, Trinity Bulldogs

Trinity, boys’ soccer Foster, a senior midfielder, has been a key force for the Bulldogs, who finished in third place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Trinity has been solid defensively throughout much of the season. They entered this week with a 14-5-3 record as they await their assignment for the Class 2-A state playoffs. Foster, a captain, had an impact at both ends of the field. He has been a scoring threat, improving his production since playing most of the team’s games two years ago as a sophomore. Trinity owns a winning record for the fifth consecutive season. Photo: Riley…

04 Nov

Prep soccer: Three area teams set standard with state playoffs approaching

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cam Letterlough, Mid-Piedmont Conference, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs

A few boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County could be in good positions to make some noise in the postseason. Championship efforts from Asheboro in the Mid-Piedmont Conference and co-champions Randleman and Southwestern Randolph in the Piedmont Athletic Conference came with some dominating performances. Because of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the western part of the state, the beginning of the state playoffs has been delayed as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association adjusted the postseason calendar for the sport. The pairings and seeds will be announced Thursday. First-round games will be contested Saturday, and for teams advancing there will…