Challenging schedule has Hounds soccer in hole early
By Brian Meadows
Gordon Palmer’s debut as Statesville’s new boys soccer coach got off to a bit of a rough start, and the schedule had a lot to do with it.
The Greyhounds’ 3-0 loss Wednesday to defending 3A state champion Lake Norman concluded an 0-3 week.
“We played all right,” Palmer said of his team’s effort against Lake Norman, ranked No. 1 in the first 3A coaches poll. “It was the last of a difficult three-game stretch, so that was kind of tough.”
Preceding the Lake Norman setback were one-goal losses to 2005 2A state champion Wilkes Central, and Hickory, ranked 13th in 3A.
Goalkeeper Doug Ryan made 19 saves in the Lake Norman defeat.
“I really feel he’s going to keep us in close games this year,” Palmer said.
The Greyhounds tied for fifth in the North Piedmont Conference last year and qualified for the 3A playoffs as a wild card team.
They have three key players back: all-conference midfielder Brent Daino, forward Garrin Abbot and Ryan.
Jared Watts was a huge loss. The sophomore is training in Florida. He is a member of the U-15 boys youth national soccer team.