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[Jeff Cunningham]

Beach boys soccer sweeps Southeastern
By Jeff Cunningham | jcunningham@hrvarsity.com

NORFOLK -- Throughout the season, the Hickory boys soccer team prided itself on the hustle plays, going after loose balls and getting them.

But that wasn't the case Tuesday at Powhatan Field, as Cox controlled the ball and the tempo en route to a 4-1 Eastern Region quarterfinal win over the Hawks.

"We don't like loose balls," Cox coach Jim Snodgrass said. "We want to control the ball as much as possible, keep it out of the grasp of our opponent, and we did a marvelous job of that today."

For the first 36 minutes, Cox and Hickory engaged in a defensive struggle. Both teams managed shots, but nothing found the net. That changed with 3:47 left in the first half, as Falcons freshman striker Ryan Oakes took a long cross from Caleb Thomas and pushed it past Hickory goalkeeper Conor Quinn to give Cox a 1-0 lead.

Oakes struck again at the end of the 38th minute, when Justin Waters fed a header off a corner that Oakes put into the back of the net. That gave the Falcons (15-1-3) momentum heading into the half.

"That's huge," Snodgrass said. "There's no substitute for momentum like that."

"A 1-0 halftime deficit I think we could've handled," Hickory coach Eric Blackmore added. "But we gave up two soft goals at the end of the half and that just deflated us.

"I don't think Cox is necessarily better than us, but for some reason we were playing with some fear today."

The Falcons struck again in the 48th minute, when Alex Martin controlled the feed from Thomas and put it in the net.

Cox's fourth goal followed with 13:07 left in the match, when Justin Waters fired the rebound off a corner into the back of the net.

Southeastern District champion Hickory (15-2-2) scored in the 68th minute, when David Meadows bent a long-range free kick past a diving Matt Harkins.

These two teams played to a 1-1 draw March 21, so for Snodgrass, the way in which his Falcons won the match was somewhat unexpected.

"Yes, it's a little surprising," Snodgrass said. "We're pretty young up top, but if we can get some good chances early and convert a few of them, we're usually in good shape."

Cox, the No. 2 seed from the Beach District, advances to Wednesday's semifinal, where it will face Maury at 5:30 p.m.

Kellam bounces Great Bridge

Kellam outshot Southeastern District runner-up Great Bridge 28-8 en route to a 3-1 win Tuesday night. The Knights, the second seed from the Beach District, advance to Wednesday's semifinal match against Churchland.

Jordan Grumney scored twice for Kellam (16-2): knocking a loose ball past Great Bridge goalkeeper Adam Klink in the 12th minute, and again in the 18th minute as he sent in a rebound from a blocked shot.

Aaon O'Neal scored Kellam's other goal in the 49th minute, taking the feed from Matt Hampton at the penalty-kick mark and finding the back of the net.

Great Bridge (8-9-2) got its lone score from Justin Raney in the 36th minute.


Cox 4, Hickory 1
Halftime-- Cox 2-0. Goals-- Cox, Oakes 2, Alex Martin, Waters; Hickory, Meadows. Assists-- Cox, Thomas 2, Waters. Shots-- Cox 13, Hickory 12. Saves-- Hickory, Quinn 3; Cox, Hersh 1. Records-- Cox 15-1-3, Hickory 15-2-2.

Kellam 3, Great Bridge 1
Halftime-- Kellam 2-1. Goals-- Kellam, Grumney 2, O'Neal; Great Bridge, Raney. Assists-- Kellam, Hampton; Great Bridge, Wease. Shots-- Kellam 28, Great Bridge 8. Saves-- Kellam, Thuma 4; Great Bridge, Klink 5, Ward 1. Records-- Kellam 16-2, Great Bridge 8-9-2.