JAMESTOWN, N.C. — As the boys soccer season hits the halfway point, the Triad has emerged as arguably the state’s deepest region. Some of that has to do with the number of players who have joined their high school teams after having focused on solely club soccer for the last few seasons.

And some of it has to do with the little things, like winning 50-50 balls and second balls.

For Northwest Guilford on Monday night, both of those things were on display in a 3-1 victory at Ragsdale.

“That’s one of the first things I tell the boys before we start, 50-50 balls and second balls,” Northwest Guilford coach Shaun McMulkin said.

Leading the way was junior Justin Lee with two goals.

Lee is one of those players who had not previously been able to play for the school team. He now has 14 goals in nine games.

“I was really excited when I was told I could play high school,” Lee said. “It’s lived up to expectations. … They’re both the same but in high school there’s a little bit more passion to it.”

Northwest Guilford led 2-1 at halftime thanks to a 21st minute blast from Andrew LaChiusa and a 30th minute tap-in by Lee on an assist to Enzo Ribeiro. Ragsdale had leveled in the 25th minute as Billal Hassan headed in a cross from Alan Abarca-Ignacio at the back post.

Lee’s breakaway in the 59th was the final dagger.

Northwest Guilford (8-1, 2-0), ranked seventh in the 336 area code, has only lost to Reagan, the No. 15 team in the state.

Ragsdale (10-2, 1-1), ranked 10th in the loaded 336 area code and unranked in the state, have only lost to West Forsyth, the No. 1 team in the state.

Source: highschoolot.com