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Topsail Pirate soccer gets win over Richlands Wildcats
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TOPSAIL VOICE
By Janine Polera
HAMPSTEAD - The Pirate men’s varsity soccer team had a taste of sweet revenge this week when Topsail unleashed a 3-1 victory over the 2-A Richlands Wildcats.
This was the second match-up between the two teams with Topsail having fallen to Richlands 1-3 in the first game.
Topsail is now 2-2 in the new season and looking to play three more non-conference games this week The Pirates are currently ranked 4th on the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association’s top ten poll for 1-A while Richlands is ranked 5th on the 2-A poll.
After coming off an upset win over 2-A District champions Swansboro (currently ranked 6th on the 2-A poll), Topsail had found their rhythm and took control of the Richlands game immediately. A surprised Wildcat line-up scrambled to defend their territory as the Pirate offense battered their barricade.
Topsail pressured Richlands and kept the Wildcats playing defense for much of the first half. The Pirate midfield, led by Brandon Batson, Nick Colangelo and Lucas Freitas, was key to keeping the ball firmly in Wildcat territory. Mario Yanez, Timothy Schwan, and Matthew Thomas stacked the front line and subbed in and out to continue the pressure.
After multiple shots on goal, Topsail’s Pat Broadbridge scored the first goal with an assist from Pirate forward Candon Rusin. Richlands regrouped and tried to even the score but the Topsail defense, shored up by defenders Shaun Leemhuis, Tanner Polera, David Croft and goalie Michael Hall, shut out the Wildcat forward line. Topsail would be up at the half 1-0 over Richlands.
The second half momentum shift for the Wildcats never came as they had hoped. Topsail came roaring back into the final half and never let it get away from them.
Rusin scored on a header off a free kick at the eight minute mark from outside the 18. Now up 2-0, the Pirates knew they needed to keep Richlands outside of scoring range. The Wildcats, with 32 minutes left in the game knew they had plenty of time to still make something happen.
It would take 20 minutes for the Wildcats to put a point on the scoreboard and close the gap to 2-1. It was a short-lived celebration as Topsail’s Freitas scored on a free kick with a perfect arc over the Wildcat defensive line. Topsail would take the 3-1 win as time ran out for the Richlands team. Pirate goalie Hall tallied five saves for the night.
“They are really starting to gel as a team,” said Topsail coach Gordan Stanisic. “We have been doing what we needed to do as a team but we just needed to finish. I think we have finally found our rhythm and we’re finishing our shots.”
Stanisic sees a successful record for the Pirates as the rest of the season plays out.
Topsail will play North Brunswick, East Duplin and Ashley this week. Topsail will play Ashley at home on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
This was the second match-up between the two teams with Topsail having fallen to Richlands 1-3 in the first game.
Topsail is now 2-2 in the new season and looking to play three more non-conference games this week The Pirates are currently ranked 4th on the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association’s top ten poll for 1-A while Richlands is ranked 5th on the 2-A poll.
After coming off an upset win over 2-A District champions Swansboro (currently ranked 6th on the 2-A poll), Topsail had found their rhythm and took control of the Richlands game immediately. A surprised Wildcat line-up scrambled to defend their territory as the Pirate offense battered their barricade.
Topsail pressured Richlands and kept the Wildcats playing defense for much of the first half. The Pirate midfield, led by Brandon Batson, Nick Colangelo and Lucas Freitas, was key to keeping the ball firmly in Wildcat territory. Mario Yanez, Timothy Schwan, and Matthew Thomas stacked the front line and subbed in and out to continue the pressure.
After multiple shots on goal, Topsail’s Pat Broadbridge scored the first goal with an assist from Pirate forward Candon Rusin. Richlands regrouped and tried to even the score but the Topsail defense, shored up by defenders Shaun Leemhuis, Tanner Polera, David Croft and goalie Michael Hall, shut out the Wildcat forward line. Topsail would be up at the half 1-0 over Richlands.
The second half momentum shift for the Wildcats never came as they had hoped. Topsail came roaring back into the final half and never let it get away from them.
Rusin scored on a header off a free kick at the eight minute mark from outside the 18. Now up 2-0, the Pirates knew they needed to keep Richlands outside of scoring range. The Wildcats, with 32 minutes left in the game knew they had plenty of time to still make something happen.
It would take 20 minutes for the Wildcats to put a point on the scoreboard and close the gap to 2-1. It was a short-lived celebration as Topsail’s Freitas scored on a free kick with a perfect arc over the Wildcat defensive line. Topsail would take the 3-1 win as time ran out for the Richlands team. Pirate goalie Hall tallied five saves for the night.
“They are really starting to gel as a team,” said Topsail coach Gordan Stanisic. “We have been doing what we needed to do as a team but we just needed to finish. I think we have finally found our rhythm and we’re finishing our shots.”
Stanisic sees a successful record for the Pirates as the rest of the season plays out.
Topsail will play North Brunswick, East Duplin and Ashley this week. Topsail will play Ashley at home on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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