TEACHEY, N.C. — There are moments when James Kenan’s boys soccer players can produce spell-binding movements while on the ball, but Monday night’s best highlights came when the team shared it.

The Tigers took down rival Wallace-Rose Hill on the road to the tune of a 2-0 victory.

The win puts James Kenan (9-2, 5-0) into first place at about the halfway point in the East Central Conference. Wallace-Rose Hill (11-2-2, 3-1) entered the match ranked seventh in the 910 area code rankings. Kenan is ranked 13th.

“Just because we work together as a team doesn’t mean individuality ain’t going to come out, because it is,” James Kenan Mitchell Quinn said. “As a team, they want it more (this year).”

A scoreless first half saw James Kenan get the majority of the possession and shots on goal, many of them taken by senior standout Peter Omega.

In the second half, a long free kick by Lincoln Meza was tapped away by Wallace-Rose Hill goalkeeper Angel Sevilla. However, the ball went to Isaias Ruiz, who volleyed it to the opposite post where Robert Ordones tapped it in for a 59th minute goal.

Purchase and view photos: James Kenan vs. Wallace-Rose Hill boys soccer (Oct. 7, 2024)

James Kenan lost a player to a straight red card with less than five minutes left, but scored in the 77th minute anyway thanks to Ronald Ramirez finding the back of the net to make it 2-0.

The two teams end the regular season at James Kenan on Oct. 30 and are 11-11-2 over their last 24 head-to-head matches.

The Bulldogs, who have now dropped two of their last three matches, had their best chances when speedy forward Alex Zepeda (24 goals and seven assists this season) had the ball on his foot while nearing the penalty area.

Source: highschoolot.com