Middle Creek opened the boys soccer regular season with a non-conference win at home against J.H. Rose on Wednesday evening.

Neither team is ranked in the preseason HighSchoolOT Top 25 Rankings, but Rose entered the game No. 4 in the 252 area code rankings. That could change next week after Middle Creek walked away with a 5-0 victory.

The first half was scoreless, despite a few opportunities for both teams. Jack London had the best look of the first half, nearly putting Middle Creek on top in the 28th minute, but his shot hit the crossbar.

As time expired, Middle Creek had another good look off a corner, but the two teams entered halftime in a scoreless tie.

It was not until the 64th minute when the tie was finally broken. Brady Flanigan found Isaac Poprocki in the box, and the senior forward knocked the ball into the net to give Middle Creek a 1-0 lead.

• Purchase photos: J.H. Rose vs. Middle Creek in boys soccer (Aug. 14, 2024)

Poprocki scored again just over a minute later on an Evan Chestnutt assist, pushing the lead to 2-0. Then Chestnutt added a goal of his own in the 73rd minute and celebrated with a back flip.

As time wound down, Middle Creek led 3-0, but the Mustangs didn’t let up on the attack.

Donovan Shanklin scored two more goals for Middle Creek in the 77th and 78th minutes to give Middle Creek a 5-0 victory.

Both Poprocki and Shanklin scored twice in the game for the Middle Creek.

Middle Creek (1-0) will return to play on Aug. 19 with a road game at Willow Spring. J.H. Rose (0-1) plays again on Friday night as the Rampants head back on the road to take on Swansboro.

Source: highschoolot.com