Cedar Ridge Men’s Soccer

Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Erik Galunas discusses clean sheet vs. Western Alamance

In possibly the most important men’s soccer match in Cedar Ridge history, Red Wolf sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas wouldn’t let his team lose on Monday night. Galunas made numerous saves that kept Western Alamance without a goal in a scoreless tie at Primm Stadium in Elon. The win gives Cedar Ridge a slight upper-hand in its bid to win its first conference championship ever in men’s soccer. Galunas denied Western Alamance’s Luis Guerrero when he deflected a shot that rolled across the goal line. With 3:35 remaining, a deep throw in for the Red Wolves nearly ended the match in regulation. Konner Johnson sent the ball into the box, where Brian Villanueva-Herrera completed a turn from ten yards and fired, but was turned away by Galunas. The rebound went to Guerrero, who sent a rocket that Galunas somehow blocked to keep things level. Galunas earned his fifth clean sheet of the season. Cedar Ridge needs two more wins to win the CCC championship. They will host Walter Williams on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium.

Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Erik Galunas discusses clean sheet against Western Alamance

In possibly the most important men’s soccer match in Cedar Ridge history, Red Wolf sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas wouldn’t let his team lose on Monday night. Galunas made numerous saves that kept Western Alamance without a goal in a scoreless tie at Primm Stadium in Elon.

Stonewalled–Galunas finishes clean sheet, Cedar Ridge soccer plays scoreless tie with W. Alamance

ELON–At the end of an intense, chilly night inside Primm Stadium, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team huddled around a corner stick as several Western Alamance players took down the soccer nets along the east end goal post.

As Red Wolves head coach Chauncey Brummell wound down his address, one of the Western players could be overheard, perhaps deliberately, saying to his teammates “I hope we play these guys again in the state playoffs.”

Everyone around the Red Wolf huddle heard it.

At first, there was likely some offense behind it. But when you think about it, it shows a degree of credibility that the Red Wolves have earned this season.

In 2022, the Warriors beat the Red Wolves 2-0 and 2-1 en route to a second place finish in the Central Carolina Conference.

On Monday night, in a battle of two teams tied for the CCC lead, the Warriors simply couldn’t get one past Cedar Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas in 100 minutes of action, despite plenty of chances.

In possibly the biggest soccer match in school history, Cedar Ridge came away from Elon with a 0-0 tie against Western Alamance. The Red Wolves and the Warriors remain tied for first place in the CCC with a mark of 7-1-2. Cedar Ridge holds the head-t0-head tiebreaker over the Warriors after beating them 1-0 on September 20 after a goal by Salomon Hernandez. If the Red Wolves defeat Walter Willams on Wednesday and Eastern Alamance next week, they will clinch its first-ever conference title in men’s soccer.

Western Alamance (11-5-3) goalkeeper, sophomore Eamon Hipps, earned his sixth clean sheet of the year.

“It’s a good tie,” said Brummell, who couldn’t disguise a wide smile postgame. “I thought we played really well. These are two of the best teams in the conference. We were both at each other. I thought overall, our performance couldn’t get any better than what I asked for.”

Galunas denied one Warriors opportunity after another in the second half. The best chance by Western Alamance came with 9:47 remaining in regulation when Luis Guerrero dribbled around the left end line with Cedar Ridge’s Marcos Huerta leaning on him. At a tight angle inside the box, Guerrero avoided Galunas and got the ball under his right arm. Galunas nicked it with his finger just enough to where the ball rolled across the dark blue goal line, but not over it. It angled away from the post and went over the end line.

Western’s Jerson Hernandez fired a deflected shot with 6:50 remaining which was immediately captured by Galunas, who immediately launched a counter. Cedar Ridge’s Edber Lopez aimed a shot from 19 yards over the far post.

With 3:35 remaining, a deep throw in for the Red Wolves nearly ended the match in regulation. Konner Johnson sent the ball into the box, where Brian Villanueva-Herrera completed a turn from ten yards and fired, but was turned away by Galunas. The rebound went to Guerrero, who sent a rocket that Galunas somehow blocked to keep things level.

Karma also fell on the side of the Red Wolves in the extra session. Last week against Orange, the Panthers’ Joseph Lopez scored in the opening minute of overtime, which was the game-winner.

In the opening minute of overtime, Lopez sent a great ball to Jonam Juarez, who fired from ten yards away on a near-breakaway, only for Hipps to capture it cold.

With 1:42 remaining in overtime, Johnson’s shot from 19 yards along the right corner of the box bounced off the crossbar. The ball had so much power, it bounced off the metal and landed over the sidelines.

In the final minute, Guerrero had one last chance from ten yards under duress, but it rolled wide of the post.

Coming out of Elon, Cedar Ridge didn’t get everything they wanted, which was a win that would put them one step away from a goal they’ve never achieved. But they gained some satisfaction, mainly because of their sophomore netminder.

“I looked at Erik tonight and I thought ‘Where is MLS? Where is Barcelona?,'” Brummell said. “‘Where is Chelsea?’ Someone give him a contract. That is world class. He’s that keeper. There were shots tonight where I thought, “Oh, crap.” And he just came up big. I think Western thought they had a goal several times. He’s a sophomore, so I’m glad I have him another two years.”

The Magnificent 7, Week 8: These are the days

Throughout the 1990s, an inescapable song was “These are the Days” by 10,000 Maniacs.

You heard it on the Album Oriented Rock Radio stations, the top 40 stations, and eventually the Adult Contemporary stations.

These are the days you’ll remember. And sure enough, these next few weeks could bring unprecedented achievements for several local teams.

On Monday night, Cedar Ridge will compete in merely the biggest soccer game in school history. They travel to Western Alamance with both teams tied for first place in the Central Carolina Conference with a 7-1-1 league record. If the Red Wolves win, they will hold the all important tiebreaker against the Warriors. Cedar Ridge defeated Western Alamance 1-0 on September 20. The Warriors haven’t lost since.

There has never been a men’s soccer conference champion at Orange or Cedar Ridge High Schools.

The Orange volleyball team will enter the Central Carolina Conference tournament #1 in the 3A East Region RPI rankings. That means if Orange can hold on to the top spot, they will have home court advantage for the 3A State Playoffs for the first time in school history. Orange will host either Southern Alamance or Western Alamance in the semifinals of the CCC Tournament on Tuesday. If the Panthers secure a win on Tuesday, they will host the CCC Tournament championship match on Wednesday night.

We’ve completed playing catch up, so here’s the Magnificent 7 for the week of October 1-October 7. These are the seven best performances from last week in no particular order.

  1. Ava Wilkerson, Orange, Soph.: As a middle blocker, Wilkerson had a career-best 19 kills in Orange’s 3-0 win over Person in Roxboro. Wilkerson also had one block. Two days later, Wilkerson finished with eight kills, three blocks and an ace in Orange’s 3-1 win over Southern Alamance, which clinched the Lady Panthers first conference championship in volleyball in 18 years.
  2. Salomon Hernandez, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: Hernandez notched the first hat trick of his career in Cedar Ridge’s 7-2 win over Southern Alamance on October 4. Hernandez scored the final goal on a penalty kick in the final minute. Hernandez, who trains with Wake FC in Holly Springs during the spring and summer, has six goals this season for a Cedar Ridge team that is bidding for a conference championship.
  3. Adeline Cummings, Cedar Ridge, Jr. In the final full week of the women’s tennis regular season, Cummings had five wins for Cedar Ridge. In a 5-4 victory over Durham School of the Arts, Cummings defeated Sadie Miller at #3 singles 6-1, 6-2. Cummings also won her doubles match with partner Cameron Mayhew 6-4. Cummings also won singles matches against Eastern Alamance and Western Alamance.
  4. Makayla Davis, Orange, Sr: In Orange’s 7-2 win over Southern Alamance on Senior Night in Hillsborough, Davis had a singles win over Madalyn Corbett at #3 singles 6-0, 6-2. Later that night, Davis teamed with Molly Kruse to defeat Morgan Isley and Morgan Edmunds 8-0. Earlier that week, Davis won her singles match against Person.
  5. Abigail Klaitman, Cedar Ridge, Jr.: In a CCC women’s cross country meet at Lake Cammack Course in Burlington, Klaitman finished first in a field of 44 runners. Klaitman finished with a time of 22:23.23, barely holding off her teammate, Naomi Dyreng. The Cedar Ridge women finished third out of six teams.
  6. Ryker Stein, Orange, Sr.: Scored a goal to lead the Orange men’s soccer team past Walter Williams at Orange Soccer Field. It is believed to be the first time that Orange has ever defeated the Bulldogs in men’s soccer. Stein is a senior who notched his second marker of the season. Orange is looking to make the state playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.
  7. Addie Reid, Cedar Ridge, Sr.: Just a few weeks after being named Homecoming Queen, Reid led Cedar Ridge with ten kills in its 3-0 win over Eastern Alamance. Reid also had two blocks. Reid is a rare three-sport athlete. She has been the starting goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team. Last year, she played forward in basketball.

Cedar Ridge men’s soccer discusses win over Southern Alamance

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team went from scoring zero goals in its conference opener against Southern Alamance last month to putting up a season-high seven goals in the rematch against the Patriots on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. In the meantime, Cedar Ridge maintained first place in the Central Carolina Conference with a 7-2 victory over the Patriots. Salomon Hernandez scored the first hat trick of his career, completing the scoring with a hat trick in the 78th minute. Senior co-Captain Illah Babchenko had three assists and added his own goal. Edber Lopez, Abazar Babiker and Dominic McNerney also scored for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge has won eleven games, the most since the 2015 team that won 13 games. Cedar Ridge remains in first place, one game ahead of Western Alamance for first place in the CCC. No team from Cedar Ridge has ever won a conference championship in men’s soccer. Cedar Ridge will complete the second leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Monday night at Panther Soccer Field. Cedar Ridge won the opening game against the Panthers 2-1 last month inside Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge will return home to face Eastern Alamance next Wednesday. The Red Wolves are 7-0-1 in the CCC.

Cedar Ridge men’s soccer players talk 7-2 win over Southern Alamance

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team went from scoring zero goals in its conference opener against Southern Alamance last month to putting up a season-high seven goals in the rematch against the Patriots on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. In the meantime, Cedar Ridge maintained first place in the Central Carolina Conference with a 7-2 victory over the Patriots.

Soccer Notebook: Babchenko scores game-winner to lead Cedar Ridge past Williams; Mil Cruz paces Orange over Patriots

Men’s Soccer: Cedar Ridge 2, Walter Williams 1: What could Cedar Ridge men’s soccer do to top last week?

They defeated the 2021 3A State Champions off a goal from Salomon Hernandez with under five minutes remaining, putting them in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. What could be better?

How about beating the two-time defending conference champions on the road?

At Memorial Stadium in Burlington, the Red Wolves got goals from senior Illah Banchenko and junior Dominic McNerney to defeat Walter Williams 2-1 on Monday night. Cedar Ridge, which has never won a conference championship in men’s soccer, remains in first place in the CCC at 5-0-1.

It was Cedar Ridge’s first win over Williams since the two became conference rivals in 2021. Coming into this season, the Bulldogs had lost just four conference games the past three years.

McNerney notched the opening goal off an assist from Babchenko. Later, Banchenko would score the game-winner in the first half off a free kick.

The Bulldogs scored with two seconds remaining in regulation. Cedar Ridge lost Hernandez, a centerback who captains the back line, with an ankle injury in the second half.

Babchenko has 14 points (three goals and eight assists) to lead the team. McNerney scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Galunas, who came two seconds away from earning his second straight clean sheet, made nine saves to earn his ninth win.

Northwood 3, Cedar Ridge 1: The Red Wolves five-game unbeaten streak came to an end against Northwood in a nonconfrence matchup on Tuesday night.

The Red Wolves were without Hernandez, which hurt their backline. McNerney scored the Red Wolves only goal with 37:23 remaining in the second half off a penalty kick.

Cedar Ridge (9-2-2) will hit the road to face Person on Monday night in Roxboro. With a win, they will become the first Cedar Ridge team to win ten games in a season since 2016, which was also the last time the Red Wolves reached the 3A State Playoffs.

Orange 0, Walter Williams 0: Orange played to a scoreless tie against the Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Orange Soccer Field. It ended the Bulldogs eight-game winning streak against the Panthers. Orange goalkeeper Finn Kelly made a save in the second overtime to keep the game tied. Orange is 3-5-2 overall, 2-2-1 in the CCC.

Orange 3, Southern Alamance 2: Traveling to Redmon Stadium in Graham, Orange scored the opening goal and held on to defeat the Patriots in its first-ever conference matchup between the Patriots and the Panthers. Daniel Romero, who scored his first goal of the season against Person last week, notched the owner for the Panthers on a marker assisted by senior Emmanuel Mil Cruz. Later, Cruz would add his second goal for Orange, who captured its second straight victory.

In the second half, Mil Cruz scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Yurem Tapia Mendez to put Orange ahead 2-0. After the Patriots cut Orange’s lead in half after a tally from William Clark, Tapia Mendez scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Heinzen Amaya added an additional goal for the Patriots for the final scoreline.

Kelly, Orange’s senior goalkeeper, made 12 saves. one shy of his season-high. In Orange’s CCC opener against Western Alamance on September 6, Kelly finished with 13 saves.

Orange clinched consecutive wins for the first time this season and still stands a fighting chance to make the 3A State playoffs for the second straight year. Currently, the Panthers are ranked #30 in the 3A East RPI rankings as of Wednesday morning following the draw against Williams. The top 32 teams make the state playoffs.

Last year, Orange reached the state playoffs for the first time since 2017, where they lost to J.H. Rose. As fate would have it, if the season ended today, Orange would travel to face Rose in the opening round.

 

Cedar Ridge’s Salomon Hernandez, Iliah Babchenko & Dominic McNerney discuss win over W. Alamance

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. In its biggest win in over a decade, the Red Wolves stunned Western Alamance 1-0 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. It appeared the two teams would end regulation in a scoreless tie until Salomon Hernandez scored on a header from Illah Babchenko with 4:17 remaining. Hernandez had a strong game defensively, playing along the back line and limiting the Warriors offensive flow in a game that had even possession time between the two teams. Babchenko, a senior co-Captain, had his eighth assist of the season. Another Captain, Dominic McNerney, triggered various Cedar Ridge attacks throughout the night. It was Cedar Ridge’s first win over Western Alamance, the 2021 3A State Champions, since the two teams became conference rivals two years ago. Cedar Ridge is now 4-0-1 in the CCC, the only undefeated team in the CCC in league play. The Red Wolves are 8-1-2 overall. For a team that had a goal of making the 3A State Playoffs when the season started seven weeks ago, Cedar Ridge is now bidding to become a conference champion. They will continue that pursuit tonight (Monday) when they face Walter Williams in Burlington.

Cedar Ridge’s Salomon Hernandez, Iliah Babchenko & Dominic McNerney discuss win over W. Alamance

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team is in first place in the Central Carolina Conference. In its biggest win in over a decade, the Red Wolves stunned Western Alamance 1-0 at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. It appeared the two teams would end regulation in a scoreless tie until Salomon Hernandez scored on a header from Illah Babchenko with 4:17 remaining.

Cedar Ridge’s Dominic McNerney, Jonam Juarez and Erik Galunas discuss Hillsborough Derby win vs. Orange

The Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team defeated Orange 2-1 in the Hillsborough Derby on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. Junior Dominic McNerney scored a memorable goal with 14:33 remaining in regulation from 22 yards away off a pass from Abazar Babiker. Jonam Juarez scored the opening goal with 1:39 remaining in the first half off a corner kick. With eleven games remaining, Cedar Ridge has already surpassed their win total from all of last season. They’re 6-1-2 overall and in sole possession of third place in the Central Carolina Conference with a 2-0-1 record. The victory over the crosstown rivals ended a three-game winless streak against the Panthers. Sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas made eight saves and nearly had a clean sheet. On Monday, Galunas didn’t allow a goal in a scoreless tie against Southern Alamance in Graham. Cedar Ridge stands in good position to be in the state playoffs for the first time since 2016, but there’s still work to do. The Red Wolves will return to action against Eastern Alamance on Monday night in Mebane. The Red Wolves will return home to face Western Alamance, the 2021 3A State Champions, on Wednesday at Red Wolves Stadium.

Cedar Ridge’s Dominic McNerney, Jonam Juarez & Erik Galunas talk Hillsborough Derby win vs. Orange

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Goalazo! Juarez, McNerney score in Cedar Ridge’s 2-1 win over Orange in the Hillsborough Derby

Dominic McNerney became a fan of soccer watching Chelsea FC play in England’s Premier League.

As he absorbed a pass up the left sideline from teammate Abazar Babiker on Wednesday night, he may have had visions of Mason Mount, a modern legend  for the Blues who helped them win the UEFA Champions League in 2021.

As McNerney roared up the left flank, there was one Orange defender who had an angle on him. McNerney had little choice but to blast away from 22 yards.

Searing like a rocket, the ball latched into the right corner of the net like it had eyes.

McNerney, who has waited three years to beat his crosstown rival, ran out on the track to celebrate in front of the Cedar Ridge students for the greatest goal he ever scored. Many of his teammates joined him.

He didn’t know it at the time, but McNerney gorgeous tally with 14:33 remaining in regulation would turn out to be the game-winner in Cedar Ridge’s 2-1 win over Orange at Red Wolves Stadium in the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby on Wednesday night. It was Cedar Ridge’s first victory over the Panthers since September 15, 2022, when they won 4-1 at Red Wolves Stadium.

Jonam Juarez notched the opening goal for the Red Wolves with 1:39 remaining in the first half. Off a corner kick from senior Illah Babchenko, the ball went into the six-yard box where several Panthers tried to clear it. Juarez blocked the clearance and chipped it into the net from along the near post for his fourth goal of the season.

It was a resounding rebound for the Red Wolves, who were 48 hours removed from a disappointing scoreless draw against Southern Alamance in Graham. After the tie, Cedar Ridge coach Chauncey Brummell and his assistants had a lengthy postgame huddle with his team about focus, among other subjects.

Did his team’s focus meet the threshold Brummell wanted against Orange?

“Not in the first half,” Brummell said. “The first half we didn’t play as well as I would like to. Bu after that we pick it up and turned it on.”

Of course, McNerney’s goal in the second half made things seem a lot better for Cedar Ridge.

“That goal was….whew,” Brummell said about McNerney’s third goal of the season. “He had one against Eno River this year that might have been better. He brings great leadership. He’s a great leader. He was talking to the boys before the game. And he’s fun to be around. He’s just a flashy player. I don’t like flash, but he brings a lot of flash. You had to be here to see that second goal. It should be on ESPN or something.”

Cedar Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas made eight saves and nearly had his second consecutive clean sheet, but Orange senior Travel Bruhns scored with 1:31 remaining off an assist from Emmanuel Mil Cruz to cut the Red Wolves lead in half. Orange was bidding for another late attack for the equalizer in the waning seconds, but Babiker had a key clearance to midfield that ran out the clock.

“Right now, we’re just lacking focus,” said Orange coach Palmer Bowman. Orange goalkeeper Finn Kelly had ten saves.

With the victory, Cedar Ridge has already surpassed its win total from last season. The Red Wolves (6-1-2) were 5-15-1 last year, 3-9 in the Central Carolina Conference. Cedar Ridge is 2-0-1 in the CCC and in sole possession of third place. Walter Williams and Western Alamance are tied for first at 2-0.

Cedar Ridge hasn’t been to the 3A State Playoffs since 2016. While they haven’t clinched a playoff spot, they have ended a three-game winless streak against Orange.

“That’s special,” Brummell said. “We didn’t take care of business against them last year. Palmer did a great job with his team last year. He lost a lot of players from last year. He’s in that rebuilding stage. My team is young, but they’re fun to watch if they can bring everything together. But they really wanted to win this game.”

Galunas makes nine saves in Cedar Ridge soccer’s scoreless tie with S. Alamance

For the first time in a Central Carolina Conference game, the Cedar Ridge men’s soccer team to a trip to Southern Alamance on Monday night.

While they maintained their undefeated record in conference play, they left Hanford Stadium south of happy.

The Red Wolves walked away with a scoreless tie against the Patriots. Cedar Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas came away with nine saves for his first clean sheet of the season. Galunas kept the Patriots from victory in the final minute of regulation. With 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Southern Alamance’s Ricardo Magallanes flicked a shot from 12 yards away that Galunas stretched and deflected over the sideline.

Two 10-minute overtimes didn’t result in a winner, though the Patriots were the aggressors. With 7:10 remaining in the first overtime, Southern’s Curtis Evans struck the pot from 12 yards off a pass from Billy Clark. Cedar Ridge’s best chance in the overtime came with 5:58 remaining in the opening overtime when Edwin Huerta soared through the box for a header off a cross by Jonas Juarez. Huerta’s attempt sailed through the uprights at the overhanging goalposts.

In the second overtime, Galunas turned back a shot by David Alemon from 16 yards, the only shot on net by either team.

“I’m not happy with this tie,” said Cedar Ridge coach Chauncey Brummell. “We’re a talented team, a group of young individuals with skill and talent. They’re a special group this season and I feel that with all the talent and skill that these young men have, they just got to put it together and play like a team. And I didn’t see that. I see a lot of selfish play. I don’t see that togetherness. It’s never a good feeling to walk in and walk away with a tie with you feel like you’re the better team and you should have put it away.”

Cedar Ridge (5-1-2, 1-0-1 in the CCC) is 3-1-2 on the road this season.

In the first half, Cedar Ridge drew a foul , but Banchenko’s free kick from 26 yards sailed over the crossbar. The Patriots best chance to score in the first half came when Clark moved past Cedar Ridge’s left back along the flank into the box, but his shot from a tough angle banked off the side of the net.

The rest of the half consisted of shots from 25 yards or longer that flailed over the nets on both ends.

Cedar Ridge’s Alejandro Macero-Ramos prevenid Southern Alamance’s Alemon from getting a shot off from the box with 35:14 remaining in regulation. Magallanes played a long ball to Alemon, who wound up in a footrace with Cedar Ridge’s center backs with 20:12 remaining, but Galunas raced to the edge of the box to kill the threat.

“Erik stepped up for us in a big way,” Brummell said. “He saved us. Even in the loss to East Chapel Hill, he stepped up for us. I’m proud of him and I think he’s just going to get better for us as a keeper.”

For a team that’s looking to end a seven-year playoff drought, it wasn’t the performance that any of the Red Wolves wanted. With Orange coming up tonight for the first leg of the Hillsborough Derby at Red Wolves Stadium, Brummell wants to see increased focus as the Red Wolves look to end a three-game winless streak to the Panthers.

“I want us to come out and put this game behind us,” Brummell said. “I want to come together and play as a team. I want us to come focused and ready. Orange is a tough opponent. They always are. I know they know how we’ve been doing, so there’s a big reason for them to come out and obviously do well against us. We have something to prove. I don’t want other teams in our conference thinking “Cedar Ridge started 5-0-1. How did that happen?”

 

 

New scoreboard, same results: Macero-Ramos’ brace lifts Cedar Ridge soccer over Person 5-0; Western Alamance tops Orange

Over the summer, the 21-year-old scoreboard at Cedar Ridge Stadium got an overhaul, courtesy of one of its most famous alumni.

As Trenton Gill prepares for his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears this weekend against the Green Bay Packers, he can rest assured that the soccer team he once played on put enough goals on the very board he helped fund to remain undefeated.

Not that everyone in a Red Wolves uniform was happy.

Junior Alejandro Macero-Ramos scored two goals, the first of his varsity career, to propel the Red Wolves past Person 5-0 in Hillsborugh on Wednesday night. Cedar Ridge (5-1-1, 1-0 in the Central Carolina Conference) won its league opener.

Sophomore Edber Lopez added a goal and an assist for the Red Wolves. Abazar Babiker and Salomon Hernandez each added a goal for the Red Wolves, who are off to its best start since at least 2010. Gael Antunez-Nunez added two assists for Cedar Ridge.

Senior co-Captain Iliah Babcenko had two assists.

Cedar Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Erik Galunas made six saves to earn the win. He made six saves. Midway through the second half, junior Ben Miller replaced Galunas in net and made two saves to keep the clean sheet intact.

On Thursday night, Cedar Ridge’s undefeated string came to an end. East Chapel Hill narrowly defeated the Red Wolves 1-0 at Dave Thaden Stadium.

Cedar Ridge will resume play in the CCC with its first conference road trip to Southern Alamance on Monday night in Graham.

Western Alamance 5, Orange 1: Konner Johnson notched a hat trick for Western Alamance to beat Orange in the Panthers’ conference opener at David Morton Field in Elon.

The Panthers fall to 1-4-1. Emanuel Mil Cruz scored Orange’s only goal on an assist from Yore Tapia Mendez. Orange will host Williams in Hillsborough on Monday night.