From the very beginning of a difficult 2024, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team never got above .500 at any point in the season.
On Tuesday night, several precise shots from distance led to a four-goal second half as the Red Wolves improved to 3-2 on the season with a 4-0 win over Eastern Alamance in Hillsborough.
Niko James fired in the game-winning goal from 28 yards in the 46th minute for the game-winner. It was James third goal of the season.
None to be outdone, Andy Tarija launched a missile from 26 yards that went into the left corner of the net to add insurance. Tarija scored his third goal of the season. He scored the game-winner in the win over Southern Alamance.
It was a warm welcome home for the Red Wolves, who had played three straight games on the road. Cedar Ridge started its season with a 1-0 win over Southern Alamance on a muggy, damp night on August 12. Coming off the mildest Labor Day weekend in recent memory, the Red Wolves were greeted with a cool, September evening on Tuesday.
Cedar Ridge controlled possession for much of the night, leading to an easy shutout for senior goalkeeper Erik Galunas, who earned his second clean sheet of the year.
“Our game overall tonight was very nice,” said first-year Cedar Ridge head coach Emiliano Chirigliano, who earned his third win. “I think in the second half we really brought it to them. The first 15 minutes we were a little flat. I put a lot on the captains to really drive this team forward and I think they executed that job very nicely.”
In the 72nd minute, junior Ben Stephenson was tripped going into the Eagles’ penalty area. On the subsequent penalty kick, Stephenson took direct aim and fired it over the head of the Eagle goalkeeper to put the Red Wolves ahead 3-0.
“The biggest thing tonight was seeing their defense block off our opportunities, especially in the first half,” Chirigliano said. “They condensed themselves so our biggest thing was either driving on the wing and cutting back or just taking the long shots.”
Junior Aaron Morales scored the final goal in the 77th minute.
Eastern Alamance, who will travel to Orange on Wednesday night, falls to 0-4.
Cedar Ridge will face Western Alamance, the reigning 3A State Champions, on Monday in Elon.
Southern Durham 1, Orange 0:
The Orange men’s soccer team suffered its first home loss of the season last Wednesday. Southern’s Anderzon Alvarado scored off a free kick in the 43rd minute off an assist from Carlos Figueroa for the game’s only goal.
Orange junior goalkeeper Hector Garrido made five saves in a tight match. Orange fell to 3-3.
Southern Durham senior goalkeeper Cezar Halabi earned the clean sheet with seven saves. It was the first time this year the Panthers ha vebeen shutout.
The Spartans are 4-0 and haven’t allowed a goal this season. It was their most narrow win of the season after rolling past Person 9-0 and Southeast Alamance 2-0 in Durham.
Southeast Alamance 5, Cedar Ridge 1:
Southeast Alamance’s Zwe Maung scored four goals as the Stallions rushed out to a immediate lead and didn’t look back on August 27.
James scored Cedar Ridge’s only goal off an assist from junior Julian Ashton.
Junior Ethan Martinez scored the other Southeast Alamance goal. Sophomore Noah Teapot registered two assists, while Diego Gonzalez and Thaw Moo also had assists.
Southeast Alamance, starting its third season, improved to 4-2-1. Stallions head coach Chauncey Brummell is in his first season in Haw River. Brummell was the head coach at Cedar Ridge from 2022-to-2024. In 2023, he took the Red Wolves to the brink of the Central Conference championship, beating Western Alamance 1-0 on a goal by Solomon Hernandez. The Red Wolves hosted a state playoff match against Southern Lee.
