TOP 10 STORIES: Best season yet for Pack soccer
Published 12:53 pm Monday, December 28, 2015
Washington soccer set the bar high this past season with its best season ever. The boys were coming off a successful season the year that saw them make it to the fourth round of the playoffs. It was disappointing when a 3-1 loss at First Flight marked the end of their season, but they used it as motivation to make it to the promised land this year.
And it worked. The Pam Pack and its 10 seniors led the way as the team finished as runners up to state champion Salisbury, who won the title game 3-0. Years of hard work paid off in spades for the team’s graduating members, who played an integral role in the historic 26-2 campaign.
Seniors Kyle Hodges and Freddy Jimenez, as well as juniors Rob Zerniak and Erik Ruiz, comprised a deep group of forwards. No team was able to mark a single player. Any extra attention on one player would make it too easy for the others to create chances. When they created chances, the ball found the back of the net more often than not. Washington scored 177 goals in its 28 games.
The defense was just as spectacular. The Pam Pack was only scored on 23 times in those 28 games. Holt McKeithen was an incredible leader on the back line, playing a vital role in the stingy defense. William Tate was important as the team’s last line of defense, too. He finished the season with 15 clean sheets.
The Pam Pack opened the season taking on all comers. Coach Jim Kozuch made it a point to schedule the best competition he could in the area. There weren’t a ton of elite teams around, but the team was able to notch non-conference wins over the likes of Rose and Greene Central.
About a month into the season, Washington got to travel to Kill Devil Hills for a long-awaited rematch with First Flight. It was, by far, the toughest challenge the team had on its regular season schedule. The Nighthawks scored thrice in the first half and won the rematch 4-2.
The next marquee matchups down the road were a pair of showdowns with a stout North Johnston squad. Washington hosted the Panthers in its second league bout and easily handled them in a 6-2 win. The boys won 3-1 at Kenly in their penultimate match of the regular season.
And 8-1 rout of Beddingfield later and the playoffs had arrived. As the No. 2 seed, the boys got cozy at home. They didn’t have to travel until the title game in Raleigh. The audiences grew more and more with each game and a large contingent followed the team to NC State.
The end result wasn’t exactly what Washington had hoped for, but the team topped anything the program had ever accomplished. The boys — especially the seniors — laid the groundwork for a program that has what it takes to be a perennial championship contender.
It was an amazing ride, but it isn’t over yet for Washington soccer.