Soccer
New Hanover 4 Laney 2
The Mideastern Conference soccer schedule got underway Tuesday night as the New Hanover Wildcats used a strong effort from a trio of seniors to pick up a 4-2 result over Laney.
After losing a number of key players to graduation, New Hanover Coach T.J. Rennie needed his veteran returners to step up this season if the Wildcats were going to stay competitive in a league where the Bucs were consensus favorites heading into the year.
“It was a really good game and you had to figure it would be with the two teams on the field,” said Rennie. “Laney is a very good and well-coached team. The first game of the conference season and it did not disappoint.”
Franco Fernandez tallied twice, Ian Bennett found the back of the net and classmate Blake Evans recorded a goal and assist in the victory.
“We knew, with our group, that those guys were going to have to produce in order for us to be successful and win big games,” said Rennie. “We depend on them to step up and they did in a big way, especially in the first half.”
The Wildcats jumped on the attack off the opening kick and Fernandez quickly put New Hanover on the board after the senior took advantage of a Laney turnover. The senior forward dribbled down the left edge of the box and fired a left-footed ball into the right side of the goal for the 1-0 lead just three minutes into the match.
“It was tough to go down early like that and you have to credit for New Hanover for coming ready to play tonight,” said Laney Coach Jamie Noble. “I was pleased with our play in the second half, but we need to play a full 80 minutes against a team like that.”
Laney found their legs soon after going down a score as Samuel Young, Michael James and David Dailey started to gain possession around midfield, which led to multiple runs down field by Wesley Nelson.
Dailey nearly tied the match when a scramble deep inside the New Hanover penalty area brought out Max Johnson from goal, which allowed Dailey an open shot, but Thomas Coleman made a heads up play for the Wildcats as the final defender on the end line and deflected the ball away from frame.
“We had a great chance to tie it up and I thought we had a few bounces go their way and that’s how it goes sometimes,” said Noble. “We had one of our goal scorers with the ball at his feet after a little skirmish in front of the net and the ball somehow found one of their defenders.”
Fernandez also had a golden opportunity to put New Hanover in the driver’s seat, but an open look in the 17th minute sailed over the cross bar and the Bucs quickly bounced back.
“Laney is a tough team to beat and we knew that coming into the game,” said Fernandez. “I was kind of mad that I missed that, but I knew it was still early and was looking to get another chance.”
Young and Tristan Nelson helped set up the equalizer for Laney in the 23rd minute when a few touches turned into a ball deep for Michael James, who found enough space to maneuver his way near the Wildcats’ goal and blasted a ball just under the crossbar to level the match one-all.
“A great play by Michael there to get some room and fire a quick strike to get us back in the game,” Noble said.
With the Bucs starting to build some momentum midway through the first half, Evans used good anticipation to step in front of a Laney pass and soon found himself on the outside edge for a cross to an unmarked Bennett for the easy score to put New Hanover up, 2-1.
“Sometimes the easiest ones are the hardest ones,” said Bennett. “Blake put a great ball in and served it on a silver platter. I knew if I missed that I’d be really upset.”
The Wildcats made it a two-goal cushion just before the break as Fernandez redeemed himself from the miss and used some nifty footwork to split two defenders for his second goal of the night.
“Normally at halftime in this type of game, you have to tell the boys that it’s not over and to focus,” said Rennie. “We said it, but we didn’t need too because our guys know how good Laney is. They’re really talented and we had to be ready because they outplayed us in the second half.”
Laney set out on the attack to start the final 40 minutes of play and Nelson brought the Bucs to within one when he finished off a cross from Trevor O’Hare with a header that bounced by the New Hanover keeper.
The Bucs continued to pressure the Wildcats as played continued into the 60th minute when Dailey fired a ball from just outside the box that sailed high over the crossbar.
“It is a young team, but as one of the older guys, it’s our responsibility to help teach them how to play our style and carry on the tradition we’ve built here over the years,” said Bennett. “It’s a difficult job, but with the group that we have I think we definitely have the ability to make that happen.”
As the match carried into the final minute, a Laney foul set up a perfect chance for Evans to get in the scoring column and the senior did not disappoint as the bender from just outside the left edge trickled past the goal line after Ben Little was unable to come up with the handle.
“Laney is a great team and all the credit to them,” said Bennett. “At the same time, I think we can take this energy and keep building from this. We need to continue to bring the same energy and same intensity to every practice and match from here on out.”
New Hanover moved to 1-0 in conference and 6-3 overall as the Wildcats get back into league play at home against West Brunswick on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Laney (0-1, 6-2) looks to bounce back with a trip to Hoggard on Thursday.
