Cedar Ridge Men’s Soccer

Trent Gill: The N.C. State football team grabbed the headlines across the college football world with a thrilling 27-21 win over #9 Clemson in double overtime in front of 56,919 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday night. It was State’s first win over a top-10 team since 2012. Gill, a former Cedar Ridge linebacker, placekicker and punter, delivered the opening kickoff of the game. All three of Gill’s kickoffs went for touchbacks. The Wolfpack punted six times. Each time, Gill did the honors and had an impressive average of 51 yards per punt. His longest was 57 yards. Four of his six punts traveled over 50 yards. Gill was also the holder on field goals and extra points. On Sunday, N.C. State entered the Associated Press top 25 rankings for the first time this year at #24. The Wolfpack will play its final non conference game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Raleigh.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon Phoenix football team had yet another heartbreaking loss on Saturday. This time, William & Mary defeated Elon 34-31 at Rhodes Stadium in Elon. Chnupa, who was Gill’s teammate at Cedar Ridge, played on special teams for the Phoenix. It was Elon’s Colonial Athletic Association opener. So far this young season, the Phoenix’s two loses to FCS opponents have come by a combined margin of five points. Elon is 1-3 and will travel to Richmond on Saturday.

Bryse Wilson: After winning his first game for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Wilson was played on the 10-day Injured List, ending his season. He was removed from the game against the Miami Marlins after 68 pitches because of a strained left hamstring. Wilson was traded by the Atlanta Braves to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. In eight games, Wilson threw 40.1 innings for Pittsburgh. He has a 4.91 ERA. Wilson is expected to start rehabilitation immediately with only one week remaining in the regular season.

Kayla Hodges: Hodges scored another goal for the Elon women’s soccer team in its Colonial Athletic Association opener. On Sunday afternoon, Hodges collected a loose ball in the middle of the penalty area and tucked it into the lower left corner of the net to tie the game against UNC Wilmington in the 84th minute. The Seahawks would get the game winner in the 89th minute from Audrey Harding to prevail 2-1 at UNCW Soccer Stadium. Hodges now has three goals this season. She played all 90 minutes. Elon is 5-4, 0-1 in the CAA and will host Delaware next Sunday at Rudd Field.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team defeated Pfeiffer 1-0 at N.E. Lefko Field in Misenhemier on Saturday. It was the Pride’s USA South Athletic Conference opener. Daley started at centerback and played her routine 90 minutes. Last Sunday, Greensboro played a scoreless tie against Piedmont College at Pride Field. This time, Daley played 110 minutes, including extra time. Greensboro improved to 3-4-1 overall, 1-0 in the USA South.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team played to a scoreless tie against Mary Baldwin at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday. Rogers started as a wingback and played all 90 minutes. Also last week, despite being undefeated in three consecutive games, the Pacers named Ozzy Peralta as its interim head coach, replacing Reid Clewis, who had been on the job since December 2017.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team split a quad match at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on Saturday. The Avenging Angels swept Mary Baldwin 3-0 on scores of 26-24, 25-16 and 25-13 at Knight Arena. Later in the day, Southern Virginia defeated Meredith 3-1 on scores of 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-12.

Lucas, after missing three matches, made her return to the starting lineup against the Fighting Squirrels. Lucas had 16 assists, three aces and four digs.

Against the Knights, Lucas started. She finished with one kill, 12 assists, one ace and eight digs. Meredith is 8-5, 2-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver. Last week, Weaver allowed only one goal as the Red Wolves defeated Orange 4-1 in the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium. The Red Wolves are undefeated in its last four games against Orange, with three of those games wins. Weaver made a key save late in the second half that kept the match in Cedar Ridge’s favor at 2-1. It has been a whirlwind 2021 for Weaver. He moved to Hillsborough over the summer with his family from Scranton, Pennsylvania. He arrived at Cedar Ridge just as Chauncey Brummell was named the new Red Wolves men’s soccer coach. On Monday night, Cedar Ridge continued its momentum with a 2-0 win over Eastern Alamance in Mebane. Weaver earned his second clean sheet of the season. The Red Wolves will look to extend its winning streak to three straight when they face Person on Thursday night at Red Wolves Stadium in Hillsborough.

Men’s Soccer: Cedar Ridge 2, Eastern Alamance 0

Days after scoring two goals against Orange in the Hillsborough Derby, Cedar Ridge’s Chris Mendez added to his team-lead in goals.

On Monday night, Mendez scored the game-winning goal as Cedar Ridge defeated Eastern Alamance 2-0 at Fred Brady Stadium in Mebane. Senior Jorge Salazar added insurance for the Red Wolves, who improved to 3-7 overall, 2-1 in the Central Carolina Conference. It was the second straight conference win for the Red Wolves.

Mendez now has seven goals on the season. Salazar is second on the team with seven points.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver earned his second clean sheet of the season. It was his second straight win in net.

The Red Wolves were supposed to face Western Alamance on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium, but the game was rained out. Cedar Ridge will host Person on Thursday night in Hillsborough.

Orange 4, Person 1

Orange co-Captain Jasper Tell scored the game-winning goal as the Panthers earned its first win in the Central Carolina Conference over Person on Monday night at Orange Soccer Park.

Junior Dylan Silverman assisted on the opening goal, then added Orange’s second goal later in the first half. In the second half, junior Cooper Zinn notched his third goal of the season. In the final ten minutes, junior Jack Pendergast added the first goal of his varsity career.

Orange’s trip to Northwood on Wednesday night was rained out. The Panthers will travel to Southern Durham on Friday.

Women’s tennis: Williams 5, Cedar Ridge 1:

Last Wednesday, the Red Wolves had just enough time to squeeze in six singles matches against Williams. Three of them went to 10-point tiebreakers in the third set, all of them claimed by Williams.

Red Wolves senior Chloe Patz won the Red Wolves only match at #2 singles over Haven Amick of Williams 7-6, 6-4. Cedar Ridge is 3-3 overall, 2-3 in the CCC. Their match scheduled for Wednesday against Person was rained out. The Red Wolves host Durham School of the Arts on Thursday.

Cross Country:

Two months after finishing 2nd in the state in the 3,200 meters, Orange senior Spencer Hampton made a major impression by finishing 2nd in the Friday Night Lights Festival, one of the biggest cross country events of the regular season at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex at Mount Tabor on September 10.

Hampton finished 2nd out of 238 runners with a time of 16:07.30. The only runner in the entire field to finish ahead of Hampton was North Lincoln’s Stephen Fernetti, who came in six seconds ahead of Hampton.

The strong showing by Hampton helped Orange finish fifth among 30 teams. In addition to Hampton, Orange’s Gabriel Schmid finished 10th. Sophomore Alden Cathey came in 23rd. Senior Ethan Horton came in 83rd and junior James Wheelis came in 93rd.

Providence captured the men’s team competition.

In the women’s race, Orange freshman Carolina Cathey was the top finisher, coming in 123rd. Kassi Scarantino, Sophia Schultz, Maggie Saunders and Margaret Hales also competed for Orange.

Women’s golf:

The latest Central Carolina Conference women’s golf meet was held at the Valley in Burlington on Monday. Orange senior Sarah Durham, this week’s Orange Panther of the Week, finished fifth overall out of 23 competitors with a 51. It was her third top five finish in three matches this year.

Sarah’s younger sister, Samantha, finished only one stroke behind her sister with a 52. Shannon Dorsi, Kayla Pope and Lucia Godinez also competed for Orange.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin tied for 9th with a 59.

Northwood won the team meet with a 151, two strokes better than Eastern Alamance’s 153. Orange came in fourth out of five teams with 168 strokes.

Through three different head coaches, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team has managed to beat its crosstown rival in three of their last four meetings.

On Wednesday night, the Red Wolves (2-7, 1-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) got two goals each from Chris Mendez and senior Jorge Salazar to defeat Orange 4-1 at Red Wolves Stadium.

It was the first Central Carolina Conference win for new Cedar Ridge men’s soccer coach Chauncey Brummell, who replaced Andrew Berg over the summer. While it’s always great to do it against your crosstown rival, it was satisfaction delayed for the Red Wolves and Brummell, in particular.

Without any prompting, each Cedar Ridge player to a man will tell you the team’s first conference win should have been last Monday night against Northwood. The Red Wolves were tied with the Chargers 1-1 in Pittsboro, but the Chargers’ scored the game-winning goal with two minutes remaining in regulation.

Justin Murillo scored the only goal for Cedar Ridge against Northwood.

“I think heart made the difference tonight,” Brummell said. “I think the kids had a lot of determination tonight. They’re a tight-knit, close group. I think they wanted to get that win tonight after we fell short on Monday night.”

Though the scoreline may indicate otherwise, Orange (3-7, 0-3) had numerous opportunities to get the equalizing goal throughout the second half. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Orange’s Cooper Zinn took an entry pass from midfielder Dylan Silverman and fired the ball into the lower left corner for the Panthers’ first tally with 18:56 remaining.

Orange continued the pressure after Zinn’s goal. The turning point came when Orange’s Konnor Johnson sent a pretty ball into the box for Darius Corbett, who was open at the penalty spot. Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver raced out of the net to block Corbett’s shot. The subsequent corner kick was headed wide by Johnson with 14:04 remaining.

“Ben has shown up for us time and time again this year,” Brummell said. “He’s made some really big, key saves for us. He’s a talented goalkeeper. I think that save just put a reassurance how bad the boys really wanted this game. He came through for us.”

Orange’s Jasper Tyll let loose with another attempt from 17 yards that missed wide, which was the Panthers’ last serious attempt to tie. With 7:59 remaining, Salazar led a charge from the left flank to the top of the box. Orange was issued a yellow card for a handball in the box, leading to a penalty that Salazar tucked firmly into the bottom right corner for an insurance goal.

Mendez would add his second goal after he unleashed a shot chest high that rebounded off Orange goalkeeper Connor McMurtry. Mendez headed the loose ball over McMurtry to put the Red Wolves ahead 4-1.

Cedar Ridge led 2-0 at halftime. With 20:43 remaining in the first half, senior Alex Jackan found Salazar for a chip shot that lofted into the bottom of the net for the opening goal. Nine minutes later, Jesus Quirez-Rivera passed across the penalty area to Mendez, who uncorked a rocket in from nine yards away.

“I would like to build up the program and bring it back to where it once was,” said Brummell. “Historically, Cedar Ridge has had some great players come through. They were a dominant team in 2A. I want to get them back where they once were. This is a new conference for us and we’ve got a good group of kids.”

Orange will go for its first Central Carolina Conference win against Person tonight (Monday) in Hillsborough. Cedar Ridge will attempt to win consecutive games for the first time this year when they face Eastern Alamance tonight in Mebane.

Bryse Wilson: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 at LoanDepot Park in Florida in Saturday night. It marked Wilson’s first win in a Pirates uniform. Over five innings, Wilson retired the Marlins in order twice. He surrendered two runs off four hits with three strikeouts and no walks. The only runs that Wilson gave up came off a 2-run homer from Nick Fortes in fifth inning. Wilson is now 3-7 with a 4.88 ERA this season. His next start will likely be at Philadelphia next week. It marked the end of a bittersweet week for the Wilson family.

Payton Wilson: On Monday afternoon, N.C. State football coach Dave Doeren announced that Wilson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury against Mississippi State last Saturday. Wilson led the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles per game last year. Before he left the contest against the Bulldogs, Wilson had his first sack of the season. Wilson has led N.C. State in tackles each of the last two seasons with a total of 177. Last season, the Wolfpack went 6-1 in games where Wilson led the team in tackles. Wilson is a redshirt sophomore who took a medical redshirt two years ago after an injury during spring practice shortly after he enrolled in Raleigh. Wilson had surgeries on both of his shoulders last winter, which led to him missing spring practice.

Trent Gill: On Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C. State rolled past Furman 45-7 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Gill, the former Cedar Ridge kicker, had four punts for an average of 38 yards. Three of the punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. His longest was 41 yards. The Wolfpack are 2-1 and will face #5 Clemson next weekend in Raleigh.

Keshawn Thompson: It was another big week for the former Orange linebacker. Campbell hammered Presbyterian 72-0 at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek. Thompson had his first career interception for the Camels. He also registered two tackles. The past two weeks, Thompson led the team in tackles. Campbell is now 1-2 and will travel to North Alabama next Saturday to open Big South Conference action.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team defeated Furman 2-0 on Thursday in its final nonconference game of the season. Hodges played all 90 minutes for Elon, who improved to 5-3. Hodges has played 685 out of 690 possible minutes so far this season. The Phoenix will travel to UNC Wilmington to open Colonial Athletic Association action this afternoon.

Emerson Talley: The all-time leading goal scorer in Cedar Ridge women’s soccer history made her college debut for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne last week. The Bears defeated Francis Marion 6-0 at Mortez Sports Complex in Hickory. Talley came off the bench to play 30 minutes. On Saturday, it was a matchup between two former Cedar Ridge players when Lenoir-Rhyne faced #21 Limestone, featuring goalkeeper Taylin Jean. Neither Talley nor Jean played. Lenoir-Rhyne defeated the Saints 3-2 to improve to 3-0-2. It was the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland. Daley made her sixth start of the season and played all 90 minutes. On Wednesday, Bridgewater College defeated Greensboro 5-1 in Virginia. Daley also started and played the distance. The Pride are 2-4.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team defeated Ferrum 3-1 in its USA South Athletic Conference opener at WakeMed Soccer Parkin Cary on Saturday night. Rogers started and played all 90 minutes. On Wednesday, Rogers also went the distance as the Pacers played a scoreless tie against Brevard College at Ives-Lemel Family Field in Brevard on Wednesday. Peace now has a four-game unbeaten streak and is 3-2-1 overall, 1-0 in the USA South.

For the fourth straight time, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team defeated Orange on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. Jorge Salazar and Chris Mendez each scored two goals as the Red Wolves defeated the Panthers 4-1. It was the first win in Central Carolina Conference action for new Cedar Ridge men’s soccer coach Chauncey Brummel, who took over in July. The score was deceiving as Orange nearly tied the game with 15:00 remaining. Konnor Johnson sent a gorgeous ball to Darius Corbett, Orange’s leading goal scorer, from eight yards away. But Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Benjamin Weaver Madeline big save with his knee just as Corbett got the shot away. Salazar added a late goal on a penalty kick. The Red Wolves earned its first home win of the season. They will travel to Eastern Alamance on Monday night in Mebane. Cedar Ridge has also beaten Orange in four of its last five matchups.

Keshawn Thompson: It was a showdown between a former Orange Panther and a former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek on Saturday. The Campbell Fighting Camels, featuring former Orange linebacker Keshawn Thompson, faced off against the Elon Phoenix, which included former Cedar Ridge linebacker Adam Chnupa. The Phoenix defeated the Camels 24-23. For the second week in a row, Thompson led Campbell in tackles with nine. Last week, Thompson was honorable mention for Big South weekly football honors. Campbell is 0-2. They will face Presbyterian on Saturday in Buies Creek.

Adam Chnupa: Elon is now 1-1 after the victory over Campbell. Chnupa played special teams for the Phoenix in the win. Elon will travel to Appalachian State on Saturday.

Payton Wilson: In N.C. State’s loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS, Wilson suffered a shoulder injury. Wilson did register his first sack of the season. He finished with three tackles. There’s no word yet on whether Wilson will miss any action. Mississippi State defeated N.C. State 24-10. The Wolfpack were deprived of its first road win against an SEC team since 1977.

Trenton Gill: Former Cedar Ridge punter Trenton Gill was too busy for the Wolfpack’s liking against Mississippi State. Gill had seven punts on Saturday night. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt. His longest was 55 yards. One of the punts was downed inside the 20-yard line. The Wolfpack will host Furman on Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Rodney Brooks: After missing the opening game of the season for the Division II Livingstone Blue Bears, former Orange quarterback/defensive back Rodney Brooks made his season debut on Saturday. Savannah State, an FCS team, crushed Livingstone 50-6 at Theodore Wright Stadium in Savannah, GA. Brooks, a safety, had four tackles.

Bryse Wilson: On Sunday at PNC Park, the Washington Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Wilson suffered the loss for the Bucs. In four-and-one-third innings, Wilson surrendered five runs off seven hits and two walks. Luis Garcia, Alex Avila and Lane Thomas honored off of Wilson, who is now 2-7 this season with a 4.97 ERA. The Pirates travel to Miami next weekend.

Kayla Hodges: After a tight loss to N.C. State, the Elon women’s soccer team rebounded with consecutive wins last week. On Thursday, the Phoenix defeated Gardner-Webb 2-0 at Rudd Field in Elon. Hodges started and played all 90 minutes. On Sunday, the Phoenix defeated American University at Reeves Field in Washington, D.C. Once again, Hodges played the duration of the game and fired one of Elon’s ten shots against the Eagles. Through seven games, Hodges is tied for the team lead with two goals. Elon faces Furman on Friday in its final nonconference game of the year.

Brittany Daley: Emory University’s women’s soccer routed Greensboro College 6-0 in Atlanta on Saturday. Daley played all 90 minutes at centerback for Greensboro. The Pride will travel to Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team has won two in a row. On Sunday, the Pacers defeated Ferrum 3-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Rogers started at wingback for Peace. On Wednesday, Peace defeated Johnson & Wales University 2-0 in Charlotte. It was Rogers’ 40th game for Peace. The Pacers are 2-2. They will travel to Brevard on Wednesday.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith College volleyball team won two out of three matches over the weekend. On Friday, Christopher Newport defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 on scores of 25-18, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-12 at Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh. For the first time this season, Lucas didn’t start for Meredith. She did finish with two kills, 14 assists and five digs. The Avenging Angels won both of its matches on Saturday. They opened with a sweep of Guilford on scores of 25-17, 25-8 and 25-22 at the Hermann Athletic Center in Raleigh. Lucas came off the bench and had 16 assists and one dig. Meredith defeated William Peace 3-1. Lucas led the Avenging Angels with 25 assists and seven digs. Meredith is 5-3 and will play a doubleheader against Brevard and Maryville on Friday in Brevard.