Hornet athletics: Soccer ties, tennis wins on Thursday

Published 12:01 am Friday, September 20, 2024

 

From staff reports

CONCORD — Some ties are better than others, and Salisbury’s deadlock in boys soccer at Concord on Thursday qualified as a great tie.

The Hornets (10-0-3) are still undefeated after managing a scoreless draw with the Spiders (11-1-2).

Concord is ranked seventh in 3A West, while Salisbury is ranked sixth in 2A West.

“Third match of a back-to-back-to-back for us, hot night, turf field, quality opponent, and we pulled off a draw,” Salisbury head coach Matt Parrish said.

Parrish was happy with how the Hornets played in an even first half that saw both teams have limited opportunities to score.

Concord’s head coach is Taylor Strode, the former Salisbury assistant. He knows Parrish well and knows the Hornets well.

“I got thoroughly out-coached at halftime, they made better adjustments, and Concord was able to dictate play in the second half,” Parrish said. “Despite being on the back foot, we held tough.”

Barely.

Center back Johnathan Barrera made a field save at the goal line for the Hornets with less than a minute left.

“With all the players we lost, as young as our team is, I’m ecstatic to be where were are six weeks into the season,” Parrish said. “It speaks a lot to the players, the leaders, and the culture they have created.”

Next up for the Hornets is a pivotal Central Carolina Conference week, beginning with East Davidson on Monday at 6 p.m.

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TYRO — There wasn’t as much drama for Salisbury tennis on Thursday.

Those girls are headed to another Central Carolina Conference championship and won 8-1 at West Davidson on Thursday.

Deanna Loftis won at No. 3 singles for the Green Dragons.

Lucy Barr, Meredith Williams, Lola Koontz, Anna Kate Goodman and Gabriella Fatovic won their singles matches. Fatovic’s match at No. 6 was a 10-8 battle.

Barr/Williams and Addison Griffith/Koontz won in doubles, and the Hornets (9-1, 7-0) won by default at No. 3 doubles.