Aycock impresses in win over Hunt

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 23, 2008 1:17 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Physical play, trash talking and arguing with the referees.

None of it was enough for Wilson Hunt to slow down Alex Rodriguez and Charles B. Aycock at Hardy Talton Stadium on Monday evening.

Rodriguez did all of the No. 2-ranked Golden Falcons' scoring as they controlled the Warriors from start to finish in a 4-0, Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference victory.

Aycock (11-0 overall, 3-0 ECC) grabbed the momentum in the fourth minute as Rodriguez received a pass into the box and beat Hunt keeper Will Jacobs, who was off his line.

"This was definitely our most complete game," said Golden Falcons assistant coach Scott Summers. "This was the type of performance we've really been looking for. I think Hunt came in really wanting this game because we're ranked No. 2 and they thought we haven't really played anyone.

"But, I think we showed them why we're No. 2."

Rodriguez struck again in the 33rd minute after stealing the ball from Jacobs in the 18-yard box before putting a crowd-pleasing juke move on the keeper. He slipped a shot past a Hunt defender that had dropped back to cover the goal.

"I told Thomas (Oliver), he plays up front with me, that I was going to score more goals than him and that I was going for a hat trick," said Rodriguez of his season-high, four-goal performance. "It was like a little competition between me and him. After the first goal we just knew we had to keep going and play like it was a (scoreless) game the whole game."

Defensively, Aycock shut down and frustrated the Warriors (8-3-1, 2-2) all evening. Despite earning six corner kicks in the first half, Hunt lost the shots-on-goal battle 13-2 in the opening 40 minutes.

Stephen Hooper's hard shoulder into Rodriguez's face, which drew a yellow card in the 22nd minute, was a microcosm of the Warriors' physical play throughout the contest.

Jacobs and Aycock's Tyson Pearson collided inside the corner of the goal in the 33rd minute while the flow of the game was interrupted as fouls were whistled and often disputed.

Hunt finished with three yellow cards, including one on head coach Trent Dorough. Robert Schick was hit with a red card for arguing with an official in the second half.

Gavin Forrest was the lone Golden Falcon to draw a yellow.

Rodriguez's personal offensive onslaught continued in the 47th minute as he sent a bending corner kick into the 6-yard box and off the fingertips off Jacobs and into the back of the net. The senior's final score of the night came in the 64th minute as he stole the ball from a defender in the 18-yard box and ripped a blast past Jacobs.

The Golden Falcons finished with a 23-4 shots on goal advantage. Hunt managed just two shots on goal in the second half and was held without a corner kick.

"Our whole defense was outstanding," said Summers. "Patrick Shultze and C.P. Cranford and our whole defense really shut Hunt down."

Aycock travels to rival Eastern Wayne at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

"I think they're in trouble," said Summers of Eastern Wayne. "We'll still play hard, but I think they're in trouble."