The first false fall of 2024 gave way to the hottest day in August last Wednesday, coincidentally the same night that Eno River Academy made its first-ever trip to Orange Soccer Field.
Just like so many other times this year, Orange junior midfielder Yurim Tapia Mendez had the winning formula, notching his first career brace for the Panthers’ second straight victory.
Mendez now has six goals in Orange’s opening five games of the season after the Panthers defeated the Bobcats 6-1. Sophomore Hector Garrido, who started in basketball as a freshman early last winter, earned his fourth win of the season as goalkeeper, making six saves.
Orange improved to 2-0 lifetime against Eno River Academy, located just two miles from the Orange campus along Highway 57. Last year, the Panthers defeated the Bobcats 2-1 at soccer.com Field in Efland.
Eno River falls to 2-4-1.
“We adapted a little as the game went on,” said Orange coach Palmer Bowman. “We need to work harder in coming out with a killer instinct. But we adapted and cleaned it up towards the end. That was good to see. We did a good job of getting organized defensively.”
It was another night where Orange’s back line of Dallas Johnson, Eben Petrides, Jay Parker and Logan Edwards controlled the pace of play and largely shut down any serious Bobcats threats in the second half. Eno River’s only goal in the 16th minute when a shot lofted from 40 yards away sailed over Gurrido’s head and softly into the roof of the net.
“We know they have some players who can shoot from distance,” Bowman said. “They just caught us off guard on that one. That was a mental lapse.”
Orange controlled the remainder of the game starting when junior John Tercero chipped a pass across the field and found Daniel Toledo, who pooched a high shot into the upper right corner from 24 yards to give Orange a 3-1 lead. It was Toledo’s first goal of the year.
Johnson had a coast-to-coast run from his center back position and nearly rolled a ball past goalkeeper Joel Strong, who made a lunging save. With 2:12 remaining in the first half, Strong tapped the ball over the night on a free kick attempt by Orange junior Christopher Lopez.
Orange kicked off to start the second half and dominated possession the remainder of the game. Moments after Joseph Lopez’s attempt off a pass from Angel Chavez rolled wide, Mendez notched his second goal from ten yards away on a short entry pass from Kace McAuley.
“The heat was obviously a factor,” Bowman said. “So we figured the more we had the ball, the more they chased, the more they got worn down.”
Eno River’s best chance in the second half came with 29:30 remaining when Alden Yarborough fired from 35 yards off a free kick that banged off the crossbar. Moments later, Orange’s Angel Chavez’s attempt from 17 yards bounced wide.
McAuley cashed in with 20:37 remaining after receiving a pass from Chaviz. McAuley dribbled into the box and shot it in for his first goal to make it 5-1 in favor of the Panthers.
Sophomore Jesse Petrides took a corner kick with 4:44 remaining and headed it in from the edge of the six-yard box for the game’s final tally. It was Petrides’ first varsity goal.
Orange improves to 4-2. They will travel to Northern Durham on Wednesday night.
Cedar Ridge 1, Northern Durham 1: It its only game of last week, Cedar Ridge played to its second consecutive tie at Northern Durham. Alex Rosales scored the Red Wolves goal off an assist from Rodrigo Arellano. Junior goalkeeper Erik Galunas made seven saves.
Remarkably, Cedar Ridge still hasn’t played a home game yet. They will make yet road trip, albeit to Efland, on Tuesday night to face Eno River Academy at soccer.com Field.