The goal came with just over 10 minutes left in the match in the season opener for both squads. Diego Garcia, with an assist from Carlos Avila, scored an insurance tally in the final two minutes.
The Chargers opened the scoring with a first-half goal by Javier Espinoza. With two minutes left before the intermission, the Mustangs’ Raul Chavez first timed a cross from Avila into the net for the equalizer.
Garcia and Eric Diaz shared the goalkeeping for the Mustangs.
“Overall, we played very well,” Mustang coach Michael Shamberger said. “We knew Northwood (a 2-A school) would be a tough game and that’s why we scheduled it. I was real pleased.”
The Mustangs were 11-7-2 last season. They lost in the third round of the state 1-A playoffs to eventual state champion Jordan-Matthews. Ten players are back from that Mustang squad, but most of the starters graduated. Shamberger calls this a rebuilding year.
Gone from the revamped Yadkin Valley Conference are Albemarle, West Davidson and South Stanly. West Montgomery is a new addition. The league is assured of only two playoff teams, plus possibly a third wildcard spot.
Jordan-Matthews, last year’s conference champion, returns its top scorer and the MVP from the state championship game. East Montgomery, Thomasville and South Davidson are also expected to be tough again this year. Chatham Central is the other member of the conference.
“It’s going to be a dogfight,” Shamberger says.
Vikes Swamp Bears
Dalton Hadlock and Carson McLean each recorded a hat trick, leading the Union Pines boys’ soccer team to a 12-0 victory at Anson Tuesday evening.
In the season opener for the Vikings, other goal scorers were Casey Wylie, Chris Wylie, Brendan Gibbons, Alex Wilson, Palmer Boles and Jacob Wilson.
McLean also contributed three assists. Others getting into the assist column were Casey Wylie, Jordan Mebane, Hadlock and Alex Wilson. Viking goalkeeper Travis Frazier did not have to record a save.
The Vikings traveled to Chatham Central on Thursday. They meet the Bears again in their home opener at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Mustang Netters Lose
North Moore opened its girls’ tennis season with a 7-2 Yadkin Valley Conference loss at Chatham Central.
Mollie Richardson was a double-winner for the Mustangs, taking No. 1 singles with a comeback win over Kimberly Fox. After dropping the first set, Richardson took the second set 6-3 and the third-set tiebreaker by a 9-7.
Richardson combined with Sandy Boles to win at No. 1 doubles by a 6-2, 6-1 score.
North Moore was scheduled to play East Montgomery Thursday.
Chatham Central 7, North Moore 2
Singles — Mollie Richardson (NM) defeated Kimberly Fox 2-6, 6-3, 9-7; Caroline Liles (CC) def. Sandy Boles 6-2, 6-1; Ashley Willett (CC) def. Amber Gray 6-1, 6-0; Holly Baird (CC) def. Corey Wright 6-1, 6-2; Amanda Wilkins (CC) def. Heather Gray 6-1, 6-0; Jennifer Gaines (CC) def. Courtney Dunlap 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles — Richardson-Boles (NM) def. Fox-Liles 8-4; Willett-Baird (CC) def. Wright-A. Gray 8-1; Alana Lopassy-Gaines (CC) def. H. Gray-Dunlap 8-1.
Scotland Stops Vikes
The Union Pines volleyball team opened the season with a 14-25, 14-25, 25-19 and 22-25 loss at Scotland County Tuesday evening.
Tiffany Oxendine led the Vikings with six kills. The senior had four service aces in a row in the third game win as the Vikings mounted a comeback.
The match marked the Viking coaching debut of Lisa Dumas.
“We started getting some things going a little too late,” she said. “We weren’t covering the court and we weren’t getting the ball to our setters.”
The Vikings had a return engagement at home against the Scots on Thursday. The first Cape Fear Valley Conference match is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Overhills.
Falcon Girls Win
O’Neal swept Fayetteville Academy 3-0 in picking up its third volleyball win of the season.
The Falcons defeated the visitors from Fayetteville by scores of 25-12, 25-23 and 25-15.
Leah Kelly had 15 service points, four aces and five kills for the Falcons (3-1 overall). Kat Davis had five kills, one ace and two blocks for O’Neal.
O’Neal was scheduled to play St. David’s Thursday.
UP Gets Tennis Win
The Union Pines girls’ tennis team defeated Gray’s Creek 9-0 Wednesday in a home match.
The Vikings have yet to drop a set in improving to 2-0 this season in Cape Fear Valley Conference play.
Katie Kelly won at No. 2 singles and teamed up with Natasha Whetzel to get a win at No. 2 doubles, moving her career mark at the school to 65-11. She is 37th on the school’s win list.
The Vikings continue conference play with a match at Harnett Central on Monday.
Union Pines 9, Gray’s Creek 0
Singles — Danica Wanko (UP) defeated Stephanie Wood 6-1, 6-0; Katie Kelly (UP) def. Lauren Wolf 6-1, 6-1; Natasha Whetzel (UP) def. Nikki Wood 6-2, 6-0; Maura Lenahan (UP) def. Jessica Crawford 6-0, 6-0; Lydia Stalls (UP) def. Brook Newbold 6-0, 6-3; Kendra Black (UP) def. Casey Jackson 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles — Wanko-Lenahan (UP) def. S. Wood-Wolf 8-2; Kelly-Whetzel (UP) def. N.Wood-Crawford 8-0; Black-Amanda Evans (UP) def. Newbold-Brianna Schultz 8-4.
Exhibition — Anna Maness (UP) def. Jackie Delgado 8-1.
