By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó Nobody knows how Salisburyís postseason journey will end this month, only how it has begun.
The Hornets kicked off the 2A state playoffs Wednesday night much like they have the past two seasons ó with a resounding first-round victory. This time they had five different goal-scorers in a 5-0 romp over visiting West Stanly.
ěWeíve been right here before,î senior defender Hanson Saryee noted after Salisbury (19-1-1) earned a second-round match with Randleman on Saturday night. ěWeíve been further than this. Our outlook is, the past is the past and weíve got to focus on the game in front of us, the game on the field right now.î
The stain from last fallís heated second-round loss to East Lincoln is still visible to first-year coach Matt Parrish. Heís carried a game program from that match in his pocket all season ó and shared it with the Hornets before last nightís showdown with the Colts (6-14-1).
ěI was nervous before this game,î he said. ěAnd the kids, they can sense that. Theyíre like sharks in the water. So before the match I showed this to them. Our goal is to not allow history to repeat itself. To do that you have to be a bit nervous, yet confident.î
There was much to savor ó and little reason to worry ó against West. Salisbury outshot its opponent 30-4 and scored on its first attempt just 2:11 into the match. Kenny Bonilla advanced the ball down the right side and chipped a centering pass that teammate Emmy Turcios, parked on the doorstep, steered past keeper Diego Solorio.
ěTheyíre just a very good team,î said losing coach Franklin Samenguit. ěAnd very tough to come back against. I donít know if their speed was the thing that beat us as much as their cohesion. They knew how to find each other.î
Salisbury extended its lead with 13 minutes remaining in the half when Jordy Sanchez converted a long throw-in from John Grant, whose goal-mouth feed was bobbled by Solorio. ěThat second goal was a gift,î Parrish said. ěThe kid basically dropped it and we put it away.î
Salisbury put all its beef on the grill in the second half. First Bonilla scored on an early penalty kick after being mugged in the box by a WS defender. Then sophomore Bobby Cardelle banged home a corner-kick feed from Bonilla. And lastly, senior Tripp Caldwell scored when he charged the net and slid a sharp-angle grounder in the lower-left corner.
ěWeíre happy with this, but weíve still got to clean some things up,î Bonilla said after contributing a goal and three assists. ěIn games like this youíve got to turn it into a practice and work on things like communicating and letting people know where you are.î
Saryee, B.J. Woods and Spencer Dixon played steel-curtain defense for the Hornets, while keeper Connor Miller made three saves to notch the teamís 13th shutout.
ěIt was a good start,î Miller said. ěBut you still have to respect your opponent. You canít let up. Thatís happened to us once or twice before.î
Most recently, it happened in last yearís season-ending loss.
ěThatís why Iím gonna be nervous every single game until our season is over,î Parrish said. ěAnd I hope thatís five games from now.î
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NOTES: Randleman (10-8-2) advanced with a 3-1 overtime win over West Stokes on Tuesday.