Recent Varsity Boys Soccer News
Boys Soccer Extends Win Streak to Three, Earns #1 State Ranking
The second week of the Buford Boys Varsity Soccer Team's season would prove fruitful as they saw opposition from two private schools with 2016 state playoff experience in Lovett and Pinecrest Academy. Against both opponents, Buford would claim wins.
On Tuesday night, Buford hosted Lovett, an old region rival, and now familiar nonregion opponent in recent years. In fact, the two teams have played each other in consecutive seasons dating back to 2011, with Lovett having the slight edge in the series with three wins to Buford's two (with one tie in 2016). Buford would come out and claim an early goal in the game by freshman midfielder Erik Ortiz off a cross from sophomore Brayan Ruiz. The goal would be the freshman's second of the season. A strong team defensive effort coupled with a late save off his line by junior goalkeeper Grant Cookson to preserve the shutout would see the game finish 1-0 in the Wolves' favor.
On Friday night, Buford traveled to Forsyth County to the home of Pinecrest Academy (2-1) who was coming off a win over 7A Lambert High School in PKs to win the Longhorn Invitational Tournament just the week before. Buford would net five first half goals in the span of twelve minutes on the way to a rout of the Pinecrest Paladins. Scoring twice for Buford was senior striker Fredy Benitez; senior midfielder Miguel Burgos would net one, as would freshman midfielder Erik Oritz; junior winger Brayan Ruiz would claim one too. Junior Evan Sampers would assist two of the goals, Brayan Ruiz would assist another, and Erik Ortiz would assist the fourth, with Burgos scoring unassisted on an absolute howitzer of a goal. The match would end 5-1 Wolves.
The two wins run Buford's season record to (3-0) with two more games looming in week three. On Tuesday, Buford travels to The Galloway School (0-1) for a scheduled 5:30 kickoff. And on Friday, Buford plays host to an early season blockbuster game as undefeated Grady High School (1-0-2) returns for a rematch of the epic 2016 elite eight match that saw the Wolves make program history in their 2-1 win in Atlanta. Grady has yet to give up a goal in the 2017 season and are ranked in the state top ten in the 5A classification. The Friday match against Grady will be played in the Buford Turf Field Stadium and will kick off at 7:30.
Rounding out the week came the good news that Buford's early season victories has earned them a #1 state ranking in the AAAAA classification.
BUFORD 3
NORTH GWINNETT 1
In their regular season opener and home opener match of the 2017 season the Boys Varsity Soccer Team faced local rival and AAAAAAA opponent North Gwinnett High School. The Bulldogs of North Gwinnett entered the match with a pair of ties in their first two matches, against Johns Creek and Centennial. The hosts had seen no action since the scrimmage match against Gainesville, after their Tuesday match against Morgan County was canceled due to inclement weather.
Buford would get off to a quick start, controlling large stretches of possession in the first half. Thirty three minutes in, freshman midfielder Erik Ortiz would cut past a Bulldog center back and find the far corner of the net off a crisp shot from the top of the box. The goal is Ortiz's first and the team's first of the season. Ortiz would see action in his own goal late in the half, after switching into the role of goalkeeper when junior goalkeeper Grant Cookson took a knock. The half would end 1-0 Buford.
Buford would continue controlling possession in the second half. That possession and defensive pressure would translate into two more goals. The first came off the boot of junior striker Sebastian Vasquez and the second would be claimed by senior midfielder Oscar Catalan. Junior goalkeeper Grant Cookson would come back into the match in the second half and would make a number of saves before having a late shot get by him. The game would finish 3-1.
The win is the Wolves first of the season, putting them at (1-0). Buford's next matches involve hosting Lovett (0-2) Tuesday at 7:30 and traveling to Pinecrest Academy (2-0) Friday at 8:00.
Photos courtesy of Sandra Regan