By David Rogers. LENOIR, N.C. — Same score, same outcome — but the game had an entirely different personality.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article (Click any image for slide show mode)
In one sense, Watauga’s 4-0 men’s soccer win over Hibriten on the Panthers’ home field Oct. 23 was inevitable. In another sense, it was predictable — but then, that is why they play the games.
Two days earlier, the Pioneers’ 4-0 win over Hibriten (Oct. 21) at Jack Groce Stadium was a dominating affair. Watauga scored early and often, controlling possession with trademark, highly skilled passing before finding ways to get the ball into the Panthers’ defended net.
The Oct. 23 rematch had a completely different feel to it. After being embarrassed a couple of days earlier, the Panthers were fired up to defend their home field, and the field itself made for a different game.
On this night, Hibriten battled Watauga up and down the field for a 0-0 draw after the 80 minutes of regulation play. The Pioneers might well have had an edge in possession time, but both sides had clear scoring opportunities turned away by courageous defensive efforts. Shots on goal were rare and, when taken, sailed just a little high or wide and in a couple of instances clanged off a goal’s crossbar to draw a gasp from the crowded grandstands.
Overtime (two, 10-minute halves) was a different story. The Pioneers’ junior striker Ben Myers scored within the first two minutes of the first OT period — then repeated the effort for another goal less than five minutes later, giving Watauga a 2-0 lead as the two Northwestern Conference rivals switched sides for the finish.
The visitors from Boone didn’t let up. Sophomore midfielder/forward Gavin Lapinski struck again midway through the second OT period and as if putting icing on the cake, junior striker Asher Hampton drove home the clincher with little time remaining.
It wasn’t Watauga’s “prettiest” win, perhaps, but it improved their undefeated Northwestern Conference record to 4-0 (12-3-2 overall).
Known for working the ball down the field with short, crisp passes before the ball finding a way into an opponent’s net, the Pioneers struggled at times, in regulation play.
“Playing on a field of thick, natural grass here at Hibriten is different than playing on our artificial turf at home,” Watauga head coach Josh Honeycutt told High Country Sports after the game. “The ball is a little slower and there are more imperfections or undulations in the playing surface than on the smoother artificial turf. That said, this is a really nice, well groomed field considering that the green is mostly gone from the grass at this time of year. At halftime, we told the players they just had to adjust to a slightly slower ball.”
Honeycutt said they also urged the guys to get back to playing Watauga soccer.
“Perhaps frustrated, we began to fall away from our preferred short passing style and started playing more of their game, with long passes downfield or across the pitch,” said the veteran Pioneer head coach, now in his eighth year at the helm. “In the second half, we did much better and certainly better in OT.”
Watauga’s elite level of fitness also was a factor.
“We may or may not be the most skilled team on the field,” said Honeycutt. “But we pride ourselves in being the most fit. The guys will tell you that our training can be a grind at times but as a match goes on, the team with the higher level of fitness will maintain a higher skill level and that is often the difference between a win or a loss. We needed that fitness tonight because Hibriten came ready to defend their home turf.”
Watauga continues with its condensed, post-Hurricane Helene scheduling on Oct. 24, at High Country rival, Ashe County. During their post-game “cooling down” period and stretching, Honeycutt urged players to hydrate and to mentally prepare for a tough test against the Huskies (10-6-1).
“Our job is not finished,” said Honeycutt.
BONUS PHOTOS
