On one of the hottest day of the year with nary a drop to rain to be found, Cedar Ridge’s co-Captain provided the game-winning goal to beat a crosstown neighbor and win the season opener all in one swoop.
Senior Iliah Babchenko broke a 1-all tie in the first half, while freshman Andy Tarija scored in his first varsity game during the second half as the Red Wolves defeated Eno River 4-2 at Cedar Ridge Stadium on Monday night. The Red Wolves got insurance goals from junior Dominic McNerney and sophomore Gael Antunez-Nunez to win its first season opener since 2019.
The Red Wolves had to replace Chris Mendez, their leading scorer from a 5-15-1 team from 2022. Mendez had eleven goals in 2022 and 34 in a career that was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have some offensive threats on our team,” said Cedar Ridge coach Chauncey Brummell, who started his third season on Monday night. “Chris was a special player on our team last season, but we definitely have some players on this team that can make up for the scoring.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Erick Galunas earned the win in net for Cedar Ridge. He made five saves, including a stop on a Bobcat penalty kick.
In the weeks leading up to Monday night, Brummell installed a new 3-5-2 formation to bolster his team’s midfielders and test the durability of opposing teams.
“We have very strong midfielders,” Brummell said. “The boys are optimistic about the new formation. We want to test opposing teams. In the second half, we were able to find those pockets and those seams and got the ball through for scoring chances.”
Cedar Ridge will travel to Voyager Academy in Durham on Thursday night.
“We moved the ball around very well,” Brummell said. “We’re dangerous on crossing the ball. We’re dangerous on the counter attack. That’s where we found most of our success.”
Women’s Tennis: Orange 6, Eno River 3: Last year, the Orange women’s tennis team had its greatest season in program history because of depth provided by athletes who also excelled in soccer. Isabel Jones, Katelyn Van Mater and Sydney Rogers all were regular starters on the tennis courts and the pitch (though Rogers was injured her senior year) as Orange won the Central Carolina Conference championship, the first league tennis title in school history.
Van Mater, Rogers and Jones have graduated, but Orange still received depth from another soccer player to win its season opener at Orange Tennis Courts on Monday. Sophomore Molly Kruse won two matches, including a victory at #5 singles, to defeat Eno River in the first-ever matchup between the two schools in women’s tennis.
Kruse, who scored two goals last spring, opened with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at #5 singles over Quinn Parker. Kruse teamed with senior Makayla Davis at #2 doubles to defeat Rebecca Kirby and Ximena Ceja-Reyes 8-2.
Orange’s senior tandem of Erin and Shannon Sollars, who qualified for the 3A State Doubles Tournament last year, were in midseason form to open the year. Erin Sollars captured the win at #1 singles 6-0, 6-1, while Shannon won at #2 singles over Kirby 6-2, 6-1. The Sollars Sisters teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-1, which ensured the first Orange win of the season.
Davis also won two matches on the night. In addition to her doubles victory with Kruse, Davis defeated Betts Roney at #3 singles 6-2. 6-1.
Eno River notched victories from senior Elenaor Finkle, who defeated Ellie Wilson at #4 singles 6-4, 6-1. At #6 singles, Lily Kate Phillipps won via default when her opponent retired.
Parker and Phipps defeated Lindsay Woodell and Aubrey Petrosanu at #3 doubles 8-4.
Orange will return to action with a trip to Durham to face Riverside on Thursday. Eno River will host the Triangle School of Math and Science in Hillsborough on Wednesday afternoon.