Nation Ford takes care of boys’ soccer business against Northwestern
Nation Ford saw off a game Northwestern boys’ soccer side Friday night for a 3-1 win.
The Falcons trailed 1-0 in the first half but answered with an equalizer inside 60 seconds to grab control of the game. Nation Ford midfielder Blake Baker scored twice in a win that sets up an even bigger contest Tuesday against Clover for the Region 3-4A title. With Northwestern pressing late, Falcon senior Kevin Garces added a third goal in the final seconds to gloss the score.
“All year my boys have been pretty resilient,” said Nation Ford coach Jon Jarrett.
Northwestern - with just three seniors this season - is in the midst of a reload. But the Trojans were on top in the first half, and should have had the lead about 25 minutes into the game. Brock Manley’s left-footed free kick squeezed between Nation Ford keeper Cooper Morris and the left post, but defender Andrew Sharp was well positioned to scrape the ball off the Falcons’ goal line.
The first half burst to life in the last five minutes.
Northwestern sophomore Ransome Smith kept the ball in play on the touchline and centered for Manley, who controlled before slotting home from close range for a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.
The Trojans’ joy was short-lived, Baker finishing off the post to almost immediately even the score.
With the hosts’ surge tempered, Nation Ford took the lead early in the second half, Hank Tuipulotu laying on a nice pass for the onrushing Baker. He took a heavy touch into the area before sliding a deflected finish past Davis Hooten and into the goal for a 2-1 score.
As the game wore on, Dom Wren’s team pushed in search of an equalizer, which left it exposed at the back. That had Nation Ford speedster Kevin Garces licking his lips and he finally stuck the dagger in with a late goal, gliding past a defender like a ghost before rifling a low shot by Hooten to seal the win.
Turning point
No. 4-ranked Nation Ford didn't have school Friday and its first half against the Trojans was a little off the pace. Northwestern was fired up for its final home game of the regular season and even more so after Manley's goal put the Trojans in front 1-nil.
But before a scribbling reporter could even look up, Baker had equalized. Garces played his teammate in, Baker took a touch, then smashed the ball past Hooten and in off the post for a 1-1 game.
“We’d hit the post before they scored, we’d limited them quite well,” said Wren. “We’d got out tactics spot on and we get the goal we want right before halftime, and that’s probably the only thing I said to them that we can learn from. You’ve got to have a bit more game management sense, maybe play a bit more direct, don’t invite pressure and then just let the game settle down. But we’ve got a super young team, so we’re gonna make mistakes like that.”
Critical
Nation Ford dealt with Northwestern’s direct play, winning the aerial battles that ensued after Hooten’s continued first half bombs into the Falcons’ end.
In the second half the visitors switched to a more direct formation of their own - a 4-3-3 - that paid off with Ben and Hank Tuipulotu winning high balls and setting up on-rushing teammates, Baker’s second goal a perfect example. Nation Ford’s ability to seamlessly switch styles of play is one of the reasons it’s ranked in the top-five in the state and should be dangerous in the postseason.
Star contributions
Baker is normally Nation Ford’s playmaker, but he took a more central role Friday. He scored a nice pair of goals but his prettiest shot of the night, a perfectly timed overhead kick in the first half, just missed the crossbar.
“It was kind of just an in the game moment,” he said after. “I knew it was behind me and hoped for the best. Shame it didn’t go in.”
On deck
Northwestern has a big final week of the regular season with games against Gaffney and crosstown rival Rock Hill. Two wins would clinch a playoff spot without question for the Trojans.
Nation Ford hosts Clover next Tuesday in a game between the two sides that for the second year in a row should decide the region. Graham Stafford’s Blue Eagles beat the Falcons 2-1 about a month ago.
“I feel like my guys are very motivated for a chance for redemption for our only region loss,” said Jarrett.
Box score
Nation Ford 3, Northwestern 1
Nation Ford: Baker 2 (35, 46), Garces (79)
Northwestern: Manley (34)
Records: Nation Ford 16-2, 9-1 Region 3-4A; Northwestern 10-8, 5-5
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Nation Ford takes care of boys’ soccer business against Northwestern."