Rocky Mount High falls in title match

WILSON — Rocky Mount High changed its defensive strategy Thursday evening against Wilson Hunt for the third meeting between the schools this season.

The end result remained the same.

Wilson Hunt found yet another way to beat Rocky Mount, this time in a 3-0 victory that earned the Warriors the Big East Conference boys’ soccer tournament championship.

Rocky Mount used a pair of stoppers toward the back of its defensive formation, and the strategy worked for a majority of the evening until Wilson Hunt scored all three of its goals in the final 17 minutes of the match.

“We made the change, and it paid off,” Gryphons coach Drew Nick said. “We were in it up until the very end of the game. We left everything on the field, and that’s what I’m proud of my kids for.”

Rocky Mount (17-3-2) suffered all three of its losses to Wilson Hunt this season. The Warriors (19-1-1) considered one of the better 3-A teams in the state, finished undefeated in Big East play.

The Gryphons had chances early and late to score, but they either came up unlucky or were stopped by Warriors goalkeeper Will Jacobs.

Rocky Mount had a free kick deflected early in the first half, and Jacobs stopped a hard right to left shot by midfielder Andrew Morales.

Wilson Hunt missed chances in the first half, too. It continued to apply pressure to Rocky Mount’s defense, and it eventually found the net with 17 minutes remaining when Eli Inscoe chipped a ball over Drew Gorham’s head for a 1-0 lead.

Jacobs denied shots by Justin Marsigli and Morales during the next nine minutes, and the Warriors added late goals from Eric O’Brian and Henry Orellana to highlight another victory against the Gryphons.

Nick said his team was focused on protecting its defensive assignments, but he added he did not feel that took away from their agression on offense.

“It’s always disapointing to lose,” Morales said. “That’s why they’re one of the top teams in the state. They deserve it.”

Rocky Mount came away from the contest feeling as if it might have good fortune in the future, too.

The Gryphons will play host to a first-round playoffs match next week. They will not have to face Wilson Hunt until later in the state playoffs if both teams continue to win.

“They’re a quality team,” said Nick, who coached a handful of current Wilson Hunt players when he was at the school two years ago. “We played a quality game here. We just have to take the same intensity we had today and move on.”

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or jhnunery@coxnc.com

Wilson Hunt 3

Rocky Mount High 0

Goals: WH — Eli Inscoe; Eric O’Brian; Henry Orellana

Assists: WH — Eli Inscoe

Shots: RMH — 9. WH — 13.

Saves: RMH — Drew Gorham 9. WH — Will Jacobs 5.