By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Junior forward Evan Mawhinney posted a brace of goals while four other Pioneers added one apiece, powering the Watauga High School varsity men’s soccer team to a dominating, 6-0 win over South Caldwell on Oct. 15 at Jack Groce Stadium.
Match scheduling can be quirky and that has certainly been the case for Watauga this year in Northwestern Conference play. The Pioneers’ first half of the home-at-home series for each of the other five conference member were on the road — which also means the last five league matches are within the friendly confines of Jack Groce Stadium
The Series: Gooaalll!!!
After an 8-0 thumping of Freedom on Oct. 13, Watauga was playing the second of those five straight home affairs when they took on South Caldwell. The Pioneers dominated possession from start to finish against arguably an undermanned Spartan varsity.
Watauga played an almost near perfect style to match head coach Josh Honeycutt’s preferred approach: one- and two-touch passing, keeping the ball low and maintaining possession as the ball is worked downfield.
While the Pioneers, as a team, hammered at the South Caldwell goal with a total of 31 shots, on the other end of the field Watauga’s junior goalkeeper Rush Brasier’ biggest challenge may have been not falling asleep. In shutting out the Spartans, he recorded just two saves from shots on goal.
In tallying his two goals, Mawhinney worked his way in space with the ball to register a game-high eight shots. Junior Trace Martinez and senior David Ganley also benefitted from attacking in space, each putting in a goal on four shots. Other goals included junior Quincy Honeycutt (on a penalty kick) and sophomore Gavin Kimak.
Now 12-3-3 overall and 7-0 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers will return to Jack Groce Stadium on Oct. 20, to face Alexander Central. On Oct. 22, they meet NWC’s 7A classification school, McDowell, before finishing the regular season on Oct. 27 vs. St. Stephens.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger view and Slide Show Mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
