Senior Matt Brickhouse scored three goals Tuesday night to lead Broughton to a 5-2 victory over New Hanover and into the 4A state championship game on Saturday.
Playing before a large home crowd, Broughton controlled the game from the outset and had several scoring chances in the game's first 15 minutes. In one instance, junior Elvis Wiredu pulled off a bicycle kick inside the box, only to have the ball go directly to the New Hanover keeper.
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The scorers (left to right): Brandon Gettinger,
Chris Vlahoplus, Matt Brickhouse |
But 16 minutes into the game, junior Ibrahim Mohamud chased down a ball headed toward the end line and crossed it just before it rolled out. Brickhouse headed the ball into the net for his first goal of the game, giving Broughton a 1-0 lead.
New Hanover responded by stepping up its attack, earning several scoring opportunities over the next 10 minutes. But keeper Trey Morton and Broughton's defenders were able to keep New Hanover off the scoreboard.
Then, with eight minutes remaining in the half, senior Chris Vlahoplus finished off a pass from Mohamud for Broughton's second goal of the game. It was Mohamud's second assist on the night, and gave the Caps a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
Broughton didn't let up as the second half began, with Brickhouse scoring just three minutes into the half on a mini-breakaway off a pass from Wiredu to put Broughton ahead 3-0.
New Hanover finally got on the scoreboard about five minutes later when it converted a penalty kick after drawing a Broughton penalty in the box.
The visitors stayed on the attack for the next several minutes, forcing Broughton keeper Frankie Stallings to make four saves during a four-minute stretch midway through the half. But New Hanover managed to get another ball in the net to make the score 3-2.
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Senior captains: Trey Morton, Chris Vlahoplus, Matt
Brickhouse, Jack Krueger (with head coach Nick Wheeler) |
But with New Hanover pressing to tie the game, Broughton gave themselves some cushion with about 12 minutes remaining in the game when Brickhouse scored his third goal off a cross from sophomore Abdulle Ibrahim.
Stallings made another save a couple of minutes later as New Hanover scrambled to try to get back in the game. But Broughton finished off the scoring with seven minutes remaining in the game, when senior Brandon Gettinger buried a corner kick from junior Ike Drooz to give the Caps a 5-2 lead.
The 2014 Broughton men's soccer team has now claimed two titles this season -- they are the Cap 8 Conference champions and the NCHSAA 4A East champions -- and will have a shot at a third title when they face West champion Reagan High School in Saturday's state championship game at NC State. Game time is 5:05 p.m.
But before the Caps move on to the final game of the season, a few shoutouts are in order for some of those who have helped off the field this season. Shoutouts go to:
- Senior Sean Betts, the voice of the Broughton men's soccer team
- Senior Sam Holden, keeper of the clock
- Senior Jabar Zalal, the man behind the camera
- Marcella McCord, team parent
- Sperry Krueger, team paparazzi
- Kim Tyler, t-shirt maven
- Jordin Sparks, musical inspiration
- Dani Blackwell and Trina Cicco, team trainers
- Langdon Clay, assistant coach
- Nick Wheeler, head coach
- And, of course, the great Broughton fans. Hope to see you out in force on Saturday! Go Caps!
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The NCHSAA 4A East Champions (click on photo to enlarge) |