DURHAM–Following a disappointing tie against J.F. Webb, Cedar Ridge men’s soccer coach Emiliano Chirigliano knew just what his team needed.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
Chirigliano likes to compete with his own team during practices. He has games where a team shoots on the first touch after they enter the penalty area. This season, he has gone undefeated against his team.
So following a 1-1 draw in Oxford last Wednesday, he decided to raise the stakes on Monday.
If his players defeated him, they would all get Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
The intensity skyrocketed.
Senior Kai Miller, who is usually a centerback, played goalkeeper and earned a doughnut with every save. He morphed into U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard during the 2014 World Cup as, for the first time this season, the players defeated their head coach 20-17.
“I owe it to Krispy Kreme doughnuts,” Chirigliano said. “That really got the guys up and going.”
On Wednesday night, Cedar Ridge junior Tyler Baker scored off a free kick with 7:36 remaining in the first overtime for the game-winning goal as the Red Wolves defeated Durham School of the Arts 3-1 in downtown Durham. Off a free kick 45 yards from net, junior Julian Ashton launched the ball off the thick, bushy surface at Bulldogs Stadium into the box where Baker punted it into the roof over DSA goalkeeper Dominic Pedde.
Four minutes later, Noah Koehler took a free kick along the right sidelined and launched a fireball from 35 yards away that somehow floated over Pedde’s arms and tucked into the left corner of the net for an insurance score, sending the Cedar Ridge bench into delirium.
All three of Cedar Ridge’s goals came off free kicks.
“We work very hard on set pieces,” Chirigliano said. “I think having the height that we have and athleticism we have, we train a lot in getting those crosses.”
Baker, who earned the first two-goal game of his career, scored the opening goal off a free kick delivered by junior Sawyer Smith. The Red Wolves improved to 5-5-1 overall, 1-2-1 in the Big 7 Conference.
Galunas made seven saves in net to earn his fifth win of the season.
DSA (2-11-1, 2-4) got its only goal in the 73rd minute from Jacob Ramos to even things up.
It was a vital win for the Red Wolves as they prepare for the second half of the conference season. On Wednesday, they host Orange in the second leg of the Rosewood Wealth Management Cup, which the Panthers lead 2-0 following a win over the Red Wolves on September 15.
“We’re at a point in our season where the outcomes haven’t gone in our favor,” Chirigliano said. “The boys work hard every single game and it was time just to make Cedar Ridge known for the soccer we’re trying to play.”
Orange 3, Durham School of the Arts 1
For the first time in recorded history, which dates back to 1999, the Orange men’s soccer team has won its first four conference games in a season.
On Thursday night, the Panthers defeated DSA in downtown Durham, the Bulldogs second game in as many nights.
Orange senior John Gomez scored a goal for the third straight game. He now has four on the season. Gomez had the game-winning goal at Carrboro on September 22.
Ajali Carter added a goal for the Panthers. It was Carter’s fourth goal of the season and his third in the last four games.
Junior Jessie Petrides notched his first goal of the season and the second of his career.
Senior Yurem Tapia Mendez, who was Orange’s leading scorer from last year, assisted on two goals. Mendez has a five-game scoring streak after he registered two goals in a win over South Granville last Wednesday.
Orange improved to 10-4 overall and maintained first place in the Big 7 Conference, one game ahead of Carrboro. The Panthers will host Seaforth in Hillsborough on Monday.
