Photo by Kim Petrides
The Orange men’s soccer team is happy about winning its first state playoff game ever played on its home soil.
But they’re not content.
As usual, Orange had to fight for everything they earned against Swansboro on Saturday night. They hit a crossbar in regulation and had to hold on late to force overtime after a scoreless regulation.
In the end, their most reliable scorer was the one who cashed in the night’s only goal.
Junior Yurem Tapia Mendez scored on a penalty kick in the opening 10-minute overtime session as the Panthers defeated Swansboro 1-0 in the opening round of the state playoffs. Orange’s Daniel Toledo drew the penalty after he was tripped in the penalty area after a run into Pirate grounds.
On top of winning just the second playoff game in school history, it was Orange’s 16th win this season. That breaks the team record set in 2010 for an Orange squad that finished 15-6 and lost in the opening round of the state playoffs at Western Alamance.
The Panthers, seeded 14th in the Eastern Region, move on to face Southern Nash on Tuesday night. The Firebirds, the champions of the Big East Conference, defeated East Wake in the opening round.
“Some call it fun, I call it stress,” said Orange coach Palmer Bowman, who has led the Panthers to both of its lifetime postseason wins. “It was pretty stressful for me, but we came out on the right end of it.”
Mendez scored his 19th goal on the penalty, which was awarded after Romero moved on from the left side and got fouled on the edge of the box.
It was the eighth clean sheet for sophomore goalkeeper Hector Garrido, who had never played organized soccer before this season. Garrido, who started for the Orange men’s basketball team in its season opener last year against Hillside, opened the season with a victory over Carrboro.
“They’re big and physical,” Bowman said. “They had their share of corner kicks and free kicks. Hector did a good job of coming out and gobbling up a few. He used his size to go out and get the ball. It was a good environment with two good high school teams.”
Orange tread in dangerous grounds going to extra time against Swansboro, a team that had played six overtime games this season. The Pirates, from the Coastal Conference, end the year 11-9-4.
Mendez nearly had a goal in the second half. With 35:32 remaining in regulation, he cut to the right side and hit the crossbar from 27 yards. It was the best opportunity for either team.
Swansboro’s best opportunity came off a corner kick Jeremiah Rodriguez sent in a shot from 20 yards that rolled just wide of the far post.
It was another strong defensive performance from Orange’s experienced back line of Kace McAuley, Dallas Johnson, Eben Petrides and Jay Parker.
“We’re fortunate to have those guys,” Bowman said. “They’re gritty, they’re smart. They give it all they have. They clean up all their mistakes on their end of the field. They just care deeply about the team and each other.”
The first home playoff game in school history brought out the best in Orange fans, who turned away from college football for one night and packed both grandstands. The Panther contingent also lined up along the left sidelines to make their voices heard while bundled up in blankets and sweatshirts.
In Bailey on Tuesday night, Orange will attempt to reach the third round of the state playoffs for the first time ever. While a state playoff win has been elusive, Bowman isn’t ready to stop striving for more.
“It’s great,” Bowman said. “But there’s more to do. I don’t want to celebrate and have this be the end. I want this to be the start of something.”