Two own goals. Two overtime goals and a prom proposal during a 2nd half celebration.
The first Rosewood Wealth Management Cup had it all and it ended with Orange raising the trophy.
Yurem Tapia Mendez, Orange’s leading scorer, notched the game-winning goal with 5:46 remaining in the opening overtime session as the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 4-2 in overtime at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night.
Orange (12-5 overall, 6-1 in the Big 7 Conference) claimed the first-ever Rosewood Cup, a new competition between Cedar Ridge and Orange in men’s soccer that will be awarded annually in an aggregate goal format. Orange won this year’s competition 6-2 after taking the opening contest 2-o on September 15.
The Rosewood Cup is presented by Rosewood Wealth Management, the parent company of Hillsboroughsports.com.
Mendez scored three of the four goals against Cedar Ridge in this year’s Rosewood Cup. In the opener at Panther Soccer Field, Mendez scored twice on penalty kicks.
Cedar Ridge (7-6-1, 2-3-1) got two equalizer goals and forced the game into overtime after a tally with 15:29 remaining in regulation from freshman Reece Finnegan.
It was a grueling, physical game where Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Erik Galunas came away limping after several collisions with various Orange players, but stuck it out to the very end after 100 minutes of action. He finished with 15 saves.
“Cedar Ridge always brings it,” said Orange head coach Palmer Bowman. “Everybody gave it everything they had for 100 minutes. Everybody fought hard.”
Orange maintained its tie with Carrboro for first place in the Big 7 Conference. On Thursday, the Jaguars defeated Seaforth in Pittsboro.
The Panthers opened the scoring when a ball fired into the box by wingback Brendan McDonald bounced off the leg of a Cedar Ridge centerback and into the net in the 13th minute.
The Red Wolves best early opportunity came when Niko James fired a missile from 50 yards with Orange goalkeeper Hector Garrido out of position, but the ball narrowly missed the left post.
Orange had several chances to increase its lead in the latter stages of the first half. Eddy Gonzalez had a shot from 12 yards away that ricocheted off the back of Cedar Ridge midfielder Sawyer Smith. A successful challenge by Orange Captain Dallas Johnson led to a cross pass to Logan Edwards that missed wide.
The Red Wolves would get its first equalizer off a free kick from Julian Ashton. The ball took an odd carom off an Orange defender and curled into the net as the Red Wolves benefitted from an own goal, evening the match at 1-1 in the 35th minute.
Orange’s Carlos Condon would put the visiting team ahead with 22:41 remaining in regulation. Mendez took a pass from Johnson and fired from 17 yards, which was turned away by Galunas. Condon pounced on the rebound near the goal line for a tap in.
The Red Wolves didn’t stay down for long. With 15:29 remaining in the second half, Cedar Ridge’s Gavin Ryan had a corner kick that was briefly cleared by Johnson. Finnegan regained the loose ball on the rebound and sent a fireball screaming into the right side of the net.
Finnegan raced to the Cedar Ridge bench and held up a prom proposal poster to a female friend during the subsequent celebration.
She accepted.
“We actually talked about it before the game,” said Cedar Ridge head coach Emiliano Chirigliano. Reece said ‘Maybe I should do it after the game.’ I told him ‘No, you’re going to score today and you’re going to ask her today.'”
Reece’s mother, Maria, was called in beforehand to bring the poster.
Galunas made several big stops to keep the game level in regulation, including vetoing a shot from John Gomez from 17 yards with 6:32 remaining. Condon hit the left side of the post with 3:25 left. The rebound found Johnson, whose attempt just curled wide right.
Mendez scored the game-winner off a chip from 18 yards away with 6:12 remaining in the opening 10-minute overtime session.
Orange freshman Ben Pelton added insurance late in the second overtime when he blasted a loose ball during a scramble in front of the Cedar Ridge net. Jesse Petrides was credited with an assist on the play.
