Cape Fear Academy 8 South Brunswick 2
With the game tied one-all after the opening 10 minutes of play, Cape Fear Academy ran off seven unanswered goals in an 8-2 win over South Brunswick on Tuesday afternoon.
The offensive communication was working early and often for classmates Trey Moore and Tanner Paul as the two seniors combined for five scores, while Zach Tomosunas chipped in with three assists.
“This is definitely what we wanted to do heading into the season,” said Moore. “We still have things to improve on and can work on making better quality passes. We threw possession away a lot and that will cost us if we don’t continue to work and talk on the field.
“But, hey, we’re off to a 3-0 start and looking forward to another tough game next week.”
Paul put Cape fear Academy on the board just three minutes into the match on a low strike towards the left post off a cross from Tomosunas.
As play continued, South Brunswick was able to get the ball deep into CFA territory when Emilio Bonifacio sent a perfect touch to Mason Brendle, who fired a shot that ricocheted off the right hand of the Hurricanes keeper and past end line to even the score.
The goal leveled the momentum for a moment as the Cougars used a spark to earn the first corner kick of the match, but the ensuing ball was turned away from a stingy CFA defense.
“The defense really looked good at times today,” said Moore. “We have a great back line and coach used me there at times throughout the game. I just play wherever coach needs me to.”
Senior Logan Oberg and T.J. Carter provided strong defensive play for the Hurricanes along with Bernard Austin and Tony Batchler. The defenders made it easy for keeper David Durham, who finished with eight stops in net including a pair of athletic saves midway through the second half to keep the South Brunswick attack at bay.
Heading into the 14th minute, Moore snuck past the Cougars’ last line of defense and took two touches before sending a strike that found the back of the net to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. The play started in the CFA half of the field when Tomosunas sent a beautiful ball from midfield.
The Hurricanes kept the foot on the gas pedal as Paul scored less than 60 seconds later off an assist from Moore and Cape Fear Academy never looked back.
“Tanner and I have been playing together since we were five years old,” said Moore, who leads the Hurricanes in scoring with six goals in three games this season. “We know how the other one plays. We have good chemistry and we talk on the field. We always communicate.”
Back-to-back corner kicks in the final minutes of the first half ended with a rebound and score as Matt Ferrente made it 4-1 Hurricanes at the break.
Moore (’62, ’76), Robert Schuett (52’) and Barton Williams (’73) accounted for the Cape Fear goals in the final 40 minutes of action.
Bonifacio added a late goal for South Brunswick off a free kick from just outside the 18 yard line in the last minute of play to top off the scoring.
“Overall, I think the effort was there tonight, but we still have plenty to work on,” said Moore. “We kind of slow it when we get to the midfield and we need to move it more quickly to our forwards. We can work on our one touch, two touch passing. Zach (Tomosunas) does a great job keeping possession and we need more of that up and down the lineup.”
Cape Fear moved to 3-0 heading into their first road game of the season Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Fayetteville Christian.
