Wake Tech Soccer set to host Region 10 semifinals
RALEIGH, NC — It's a big week for Wake Tech Soccer, with both the women's and men's teams beginning postseason play at home.
#2-seed Wake Tech Women's Soccer set for home postseason game on Tuesday
Wake Tech Women's Soccer takes on #3-seed Richard Bland for the third time this season in the Region 10 Division II Tournament semifinal on Tuesday, October 22. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 5-5-1 record, but a 4-1-1 conference record landed them the #2 seed in the tournament. Both prior meetings between these two teams were decided by a goal each, with Wake Tech picking up a 1-0 win on the road on September 20, and 2-1 at home on October 7. Tuesday's match is scheduled to kick off at 1:00pm.
Sophomore midfielder Kayly Pastrana looks to take her goalscoring form into postseason play; she is currently second in Region 10 Division II in goals (10). She scored the lone goal in the victory back in September. Savannah Backholm has been another major contributor for the Eagles. The sophomore forward has tallied four goals and three assists. She played a large role in the run last season to the championship game. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Cora Hunter has also been a standout this season, ranking third in the conference in saves (54), save percentage (.730), and goals-against average (2.36).
The winner of Tuesday's semifinal secures their spot in the championship game on Saturday, October 26. #1-seed Cape Fear is set to take on #4-seed Louisburg in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
#2-seed Wake Tech Men's Soccer set for another rematch with Cape Fear in tournament semifinal
Just days after wrapping up the regular season in Castle Hayne against Cape Fear, Wake Tech Men's Soccer is set to face the Sea Devils for a third time this season. This matchup comes in the semifinal of the NJCAA Region 10 Division II Tournament. The match will be played at WRAL Soccer Park and is scheduled to kick off at 1:00pm.
The first matchup between these two teams back on September 21 was all Eagles. After Cape Fear had a player sent off towards the end of the first half, Wake Tech capitalized and put six past the Sea Devils. That game saw Kayden Richter and Ali Elshafi each score twice, with Pablo Vargas and Carter Bennett also getting in on the scoring. The game finished with a 6-0 score line.
The most recent contest went Cape Fear's way, with the Eagles dropping the regular season finale 3-1. Cape Fear are winners of their last three, including a victory over the weekend over #12 Patrick & Henry, who enter this tournament as the #1 seed.
Kayden Richter is putting together a second consecutive stellar season for the Eagles. The sophomore forward currently leads Region 10 Division II in goals (13) and points (32). Richter is the all-time leading goal scorer in program history. Right behind him is Ali Elshafi. The freshman midfielder has nine goals so far on the season, good for second in the conference.
Although all three of Wake Tech's goalkeepers have seen significant minutes between the sticks this season, freshman Gabriel Catalano has found himself atop the Region 10 leaderboards in save percentage (.776) and second in goals-against average (2.08).
The other semifinal is between #1-seed Patrick & Henry and #4-seed Louisburg. The championship match will be played on Saturday, October 26 at the higher seed's home field.
Wake Tech Men's Soccer finished the regular season with a 6-5 record and a 5-3 in conference record landing them the #2 seed in the region 10 Division II Tournament. The Eagles take on #3-seed Cape Fear for the third time this season in the Tournament semifinal on Wednesday, October 23. With Wake Tech being the higher seed the game will be played at WRAL Soccer Park with kick of being scheduled for 1:00pm. The Eagles had a tale of two games in the previous matchups with Cape Fear winning their first matchup 6-0 at home September 21. However, in the 2nd meeting of the season Cape Fear took down the eagles 3-1 on the road October 23. Look for Kayden Richter to continue his stellar season where he currently leads the Region 10 Division II in goals and points with 13 goals and 52 points respectively. The winner of Wednesdays semifinals game is set to take on the winner of #1 seed Patrick & Henry and #4 seed Louisburg in the championship.