As time ran out for Greenfield School in Monday’s nonconference boys soccer game against DASH United, the host Knights executed their final play perfectly – literally.
Trailing 1-0 to home school team DASH United as the final seconds ticked by on the Forbes Field scoreboard, Knights junior Noah Wright sent a cross into the box where sophomore T Good headed the ball into the far post to tie the game with two seconds left.
DASH, which scored a goal late in the first half, did not manage a rare win against the Knights, but United head coach Jareb McClain was impressed with his team and the spectacular finish.
“Greenfield is usually a difficult game for us, so it was good to be one goal up for most of the game,” he said. “I think we controlled the game until the last two minutes when Greenfield turned it up quite high and sent quite a few balls at our post and crossbar until they finally scored a beautiful header that definitely deserved the game.”
The game was originally scheduled as part of the season-opening Dr. Robert T. Stone Memorial Showcase two weeks ago, but Tropical Storm Debby scuppered that. The teams met again Monday under bright skies, but the Knights were far from complete. In Friday’s 9-0 win at Epiphany School in New Bern, sophomore Grayson Coulter injured his ankle, leaving a big hole in the Knights’ defense.
“Today was an adjustment game for us,” said Greenfield head coach George Venturella. “He’s a starting center back – a key position – so we had to regroup because we haven’t practiced since last Wednesday. That means we regroup in the game.”
Venturella said he initially lined up speedy senior Simon Quinn in Coulter’s place in the middle of the defensive line alongside Wright, but that hampered Greenfield’s offensive opportunities. Instead, sophomore Daniel Satterfield slid the rest of the way from the fullback position.
The Knights were solid defensively, limiting DASH to just six shots on goal in the game, but one of them did come through when Aiden Medina scored late in the first half off an assist from JT Doyle to give United the lead.
Greenfield goalkeeper Kel Winstead was rarely challenged and was able to save two shots.
However, the Knights were unable to find a clear offensive move despite 20 shots on goal, until Wright and Good worked together at the last moment.
“It shows they were ready to play to the end,” Venturella said of his team’s determination. “They didn’t give up. They knew we had every chance, we just had to get lucky and score. I can’t tell you how many of them hit the post or just bounced the wrong way for us. I’m glad the last one finally came.”
Greenfield (3-1-1) returns to NCISAA 2-A/3-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference play on Tuesday at Parrott Academy in Kinston before visiting Wilson Christian for another local non-league clash.
“It’s not a conference, but we definitely want to win it,” Venturella said.
DASH, which features players from homeschooled teams in Wilson, Wake and Nash counties, returns to Wilson on Tuesday to play Sallie B. Howard School at the Gillette Soccer Complex.
