A funny thing happened to Fayetteville Academy after completing its soccer regular season with a perfect 16-0 record.
When seedings were announced for this year’s state 2-A playoffs, the Eagles found themselves sitting at No. 6.
The lower seeding did earn them a double bye, meaning they won’t play their first game until Saturday, but both Eagle head coach Andrew McCarthy and some of his players were a little mystified that they didn’t get more of a reward for their unbeaten record.
“That’s how it came out,” McCarthy said. “We’re sixth, and that’s how it is.”
McCarthy prefers to focus on the positive, like the double bye, which he feels will give his players extra time to recover from any minor bumps and bruises from the regular season before they face their first playoff opponent.
“You’ve just got to make sure that with training and practice, you keep the intensity as high as possible,” he said. “Mirror the game as much as you can.”
Defensively, the Eagles are led by goalkeeper Tochokuw Ejeh, who recorded 12 shutouts this year and allowed only five goals in the regular season.
At 6-foot-3, Ejeh uses his athletic ability and good footwork to provide a formidable obstacle for academy opponents.
Ejeh was a little more direct than his head coach when discussing the team’s relatively low seeding.
“I’d call it disrespectful, to be honest,’’ he said.
According to the MaxPreps’ rankings for 2-A schools in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association, the Eagles are No. 3, just behind two-time defending state champion Gaston Day.
“I think they underestimated us,” Ejeh said, noting the Eagles played a 3-A team this year, Arendell Parrott.
Parrott is currently ranked No. 5 in the NCISAA 3-A division. The Eagles beat the Patriots 3-1 last month.
“They feel our strength of schedule was a lot lower than western teams,” Ejeh said. “I still feel we measure up to them.”
So does Julian Stokes, who is one of many contributors to what McCarthy calls a balanced scoring attack for the Eagles this season.
“We are definitely fired up to prove ourselves during the playoffs,” Stokes said. “During practice, we are keeping the intensity high, making sure we are sharpening everything we need to do to perform to the best of our abilities.”
While Gaston Day is the two-time defending 2-A champion, McCarthy thinks this year’s tournament has multiple teams with a legitimate shot at the title.
“Whoever wins it this year is well-deserved,” he said.
Earl’s Pearls
Terry Sanford blanked Cumberland County rival Seventy-First 6-0, while Cape Fear earned a forfeit win over Dixon.
Both teams move to the second round Monday. Terry Sanford will host either Triton or South Johnston while Cape Fear hosts either Orange or Cedar Ridge.
Both teams will be in action this weekend in the Mideast individual regional tournament at the Burlington Tennis Center.
This week’s picks
After weeks of trying, I finally hit a perfecto, a 7-0 record for last week’s games.
That improved the record to 46-14, or 76.6%.
This week looks to be a little trickier, especially with games moving because of the threat of rain Friday.
As of press time Thursday, two games had been switched to kicking off this evening.
Pine Forest at Harnett Central and Western Harnett at Westover are both 7 p.m. kickoffs today.
The rest of the schedule remains on Friday.
Here are the picks:
Terry Sanford at E.E. Smith: The Bulldogs need a late run in order to seal a playoff berth … Terry Sanford 30, E.E. Smith 8.
Purnell Swett at Douglas Byrd: The Rams pick up a road victory … Purnell Swett 29, Douglas Byrd 7.
Pine Forest at Harnett Central: This should be a close one. I give Harnett Central the edge at home … Harnett Central 21, Pine Forest 20.
South View at Cape Fear: I think Cape Fear is the county’s No. 2 team behind Seventy-First … Cape Fear 24, South View 22.
Western Harnett at Westover: The Wolverines grab another victory … Westover 32, Western Harnett 14.
Jack Britt at Gray’s Creek: Britt finds the winner’s circle … Jack Britt 24, Gray’s Creek 12.
Lumberton at Seventy-First: Odds are high for a running clock in this one … Seventy-First 39, Lumberton 0.
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