Wilmington, NC - For the first time ever, Legion Stadium in Wilmington plays host to the Region 10 Championship Tournament in both men's and women's soccer Oct.31-Nov. 1.
After opening round play got underway earlier this week on the home pitch of the higher seed in the six-team single elimination bracket, four programs representing each division will converge on the Port City this weekend for the semifinals and finals.
The Cape Fear Community College women's soccer team earned top-seed after clinching the regular season title and face No. 5 Patrick Henry Community College at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
"When you look back on our season, we have played well and earned positive results when we have had to," said CFCC First-year Coach Ryan Deppa. "We have had our backs against the wall and had to perform under pressure, while at the same time taking some lumps as well. When we show up and work for each other, we are a tough team to beat. It will be a challenging weekend as each team has the ability to do well."
Each team picked up a result on the opposing pitch to split the season series and Patrick Henry is coming off a double-overtime first round result after erasing a two-goal halftime deficit. The Sea Devils have gone through their growing pains over the last few months with a new coach and having 12 players in their first season competing at the college level, but Deppa has been encouraged with his team's progress and believes they are contributing to the overall success of the program moving forward.
"The girls continue to work at it, both on and off the field," Deppa added. "They have a lot on their plate as they are establishing the foundation of our program's culture, which not only matters today, but for the future. They have made sacrifices to build our team chemistry and this has developed loyalty within our team."
Cape Fear (10-2, 10-6) has shown a well balanced attack throughout the course of the year, while freshman Alyssa Coustenis (Salamanca, N.Y.) has been a dominate force in the attack. Her 16 goals are a team-high to go along with classmate Jenna Pecorini (Fox Lake, Ill.), who has seven tallies and seven assists. Wilmington natives Vivian Hernandez and Ramie Cooper have also seen extensive minutes for the Sea Devils as the team returns just five players from one year ago.
Heading into the weekend, Cape Fear is on a brief two-game win streak and looks to build off the momentum following a 3-1 loss to Patrick Henry on Oct. 18. The Sea Devils blanked Louisburg 1-0 last Saturday in their final home game thanks to a game-winning goal by Allyson McLamb (Greensboro, N.C.) to clinch first-place in the region standings.
"For our girls to handle all the injuries we endured and the crazy weather this fall, and to handle it all the way they have is why they earned the regular season conference title," Deppa said. "They continue to adapt, and overcome all obstacles. That takes some toughness."
No. 2 Louisburg College and No. 3 Spartanburg Methodist square off at 2:30 pm on Saturday, Oct. 31, with the winners facing off in the title game at 12 pm on Sunday.
The Region 10 Champion heads to the District L Game on Nov. 7, with a chance to clinch a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Tournament, Nov. 16-20, in Melbourne, Florida.
Courtesy of Joe Catenacci