Six county high school teams make soccer playoffs

Mike Duprez

Randolph Hub

While other high school sports started playoffs last week, girls soccer was finishing up the regular season. 

When the smoke cleared, six teams from Randolph County qualified for the NCHSAA state playoffs. Heading the list was undefeated defending 2-A state champion Wheatmore. Providence Grove, Southwestern Randolph and Randleman also made it in 2-A. Uwharrie Charter made the 1-A playoffs and Asheboro made the 3-A playoffs. 

Playoffs began Monday evening for those teams with winners advancing to Thursday games.

Meanwhile, here’s a look at last week’s regular season-ending results.

SOCCER

*Tess Moody played a though ball from Madison Luck and scored with 47 seconds remaining as Asheboro beat Ledford 1-0. Carlisle Dozier made seven saves for the Blue Comets. Karen Cox, Itzel Macias, Samantha Goicochea and Natasha Mederos were solid on defense.

*Taryn Waugh scored three goals in Providence Grove’s 10-0 blanking of Eastern Randolph. Emily Bautista, Jenny Banuelos, Brooke Ingram, Aaliyah Loveday, Zoey Whitaker, Rori Luther and Sarah Majors all had one goal. Ingram also had three assists.

*Macy Walker scored the Cougars’ lone goal in Southwestern Randolph’s 4-1 loss to Union Academy.

*Ellie Garrison scored four goals in Wheatmore’s 7-1 win over Uwharrie Charter. Summer Bowman tallied the other three goals for the undefeated Warriors.

Katie Jones scored Uwharrie Charter’s goal.

*Garrison then broke her own NCHSAA single-season scoring record with four goals in Wheatmore’s 9-2 win over Providence Grove to conclude the regular season. The Appalachian State recruit now has 78 goals, one more than her previous record of 77 set last year. Bowman added three goals for the Warriors, who have won 45 straight games. Maggie Mesner scored the other two goals.

Noelle Swaim and Waugh scored for Providence Grove.

*Jara Arellano scored two goals in Asheboro’s 5-0 win over Montgomery Central. Natalie Flores, Madison Luck and Moody got the other goals. Dozier made five saves.

*Macy Allred and Katie Jaimes scored the goals in Southwestern Randolph's 2-1 win over Uwharrie Charter.

*Allred tallied the goal as Southwestern Randolph played Jordan-Matthews to a 1-1 tie.

GOLF

*David Elliott of Asheboro shot a 4-over-par 76 in the Midwest 3-A Regional at Sapona Golf, Swim and Tennis Club. Since he placed in the top 10, Elliott qualified for the 3-A state tournament that was scheduled for May 15-16 at at the Foxfire red course.

*Wheatmore’s Ryan Marshall shot a 7-over-par 77 in the Midwest 2-A Regional at Pilot Knob Park. The Warrior sophomore finished sixth overall and qualified for the 2-A state tournament, scheduled for May 15-16 at Longleaf.

*Eastern Randolph’s Connor Carter shot a 1-under-par 70 and finished second in the Midwest 1-A regional at Colonia Country Club. Carter qualified for the 1-A state tournament, scheduled for May 15-16 at Pinehurst No. 6.

SOFTBALL

*Former Asheboro player Kristen Faircloth is the Blue Comets’ new coach after spending 10 years on the school athletic staff. (See accompanying story.)

*Former Providence Grove star Edi Austin has been named to the NJCAA Division II All-Region X team. The Louisburg freshman is hitting .402 with 26 home runs and 70 RBIs in 60 games.

*Marshall University Alex Coleman, who was a star player at Southwestern Randolph, was named to the Sun Belt all-conference softball team. Coleman is hitting .432 with 41 stolen bases.

*Former Providence Grove star Makayla McClain has been named to the Big South All-Freshman team. The Campbell infielder is batting .329 with 2 home runs, 24 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.