Men’s Soccer: Orange 6, Person 0: For the first time since 2018, the Orange men’s soccer team has posted back-to-back shutouts. On Wednesday night, the Panthers defeated Person 6-0 in Roxboro. Senior Finn Kelly earned his second straight clean sheet. Orange has allowed only one goal over the past three games.
On Monday night, the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 2-0 in overtime. Kelly had a season-high 15 saves as the Panthers won the second leg of the Hillsborough Derby.
The victory improves Orange’s chances of advancing to the state playoffs. Orange was eliminated in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs last season by J.H. Rose. Since men’s soccer started at Orange in 1988, the Panthers have never made the state playoffs in back-to-back years. As of Thursday night, Orange was up to #24 in the 3A East RPI rankings, a six-notch jump compared to one week ago.
Orange (6-6-2 overall, 5-3-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) got the opening goal from Daniel Romero, who scored the insurance goal against Cedar Ridge on Monday. Enzo Bruhns, a senior who assisted on Romero’s goal against the Red Wolves, added his first goal of the season in the first half.
Joseph Lopez, a junior who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Cedar Ridge, added his third goal of the season. Issac Gallegos, Angel Chavez and Issac Gallegos also scored goals for Orange. Yurem Tapia Mendez had two assists on the night. Senior Ryker Stein, Chavez, and Romero also had assists for the Panthers.
The Panthers now have a three-game winning streak. Last week, the Panthers defeated Walter Williams 2-1 in Hillsborough. It is believed to be Orange’s first-ever win over the Bulldogs in men’s soccer. Stein and Mendez scored goals for Orange. Kelly earned the win in net. He finished with seven saves.
Orange will continue its pursuit of a state playoff birth when they face Eno River Academy at the Soccer.com Complex in Efland at 6PM. It’s the first-ever matchup between the two teams in men’s soccer. It will be Orange’s final regular season nonconference game.
Men’s Cross Country: Orange and Cedar Ridge runners were among hundreds of competitors at the Great American Cross Country Festival at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on October 6.
The men’s Race of Champions had 375 competitors. Orange High’s Gabriel Schmid finished 12th with a time of 15:03.30. Schmid was the highest finisher among competitors from a 3A public school. Athens Drive’s Noah Valyo finished first at 14:42.60.
Orange finished 14th among 44 teams that gathered from across the region. Orange sophomore Myles Jermyn came in 90th (16:15.30), while senior Alden Cathey came in 98th (16:17.50). Another Orange sophomore, Lucas Van Mater, finished 142nd (16:39.30). Nolan Hufner, Peter Musser, Cyrus Neal and Alden Viola also competed and finished for Orange.
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School finished first in the men’s team standings.
Schmid, the defending 3A State Individual Champion, will compete again on Saturday during the NC Runners Elite Cross Country Invitational at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. Schmid won the state championship on that course last November. Once again, Redmon Sports Complex will be the site of the North Carolina High School State Athletic Association state cross country championships next month.
Cedar Ridge’s men’s cross country team competed in the Blue Race. Edgar Ibarra had a season-best time of 17:59.40, which was good enough for 72nd. Ryan Matthews finished 80th
Women’s Cross Country: Also at the Great American Cross Country Festival, Cedar Ridge’s women’s team competed in the 1-Girls Blue Race. Naomi Dyreng finished 13th among 298 competitors with a time of 19:48.50. Abigail Klaitman had a season-best time of 20:05.90 and finished 29th overall. Kate Finnegan, Anna Peterson, Samantha Quade and Lillian Barber also had season best times for the Red Wolves.
Dyreng was the top finisher for Cedar Ridge in the 3A State Championships last November.