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Saturday night in the cold, Myers Park's nationally ranked soccer team was getting pushed to the limit by rival South Mecklenburg.
Most of the final five minutes of Myers Park's 2-1 N.C. 4A quarterfinal win was played right in front of the Mustangs' goal. And Myers Park had to withstand a massive offensive barrage from a desperate group of Sabres (20-7), who did not want to lose to the Mustangs for a third time this season.
The Sabres (20-6) had more than 10 corner kicks or throw-ins, and at least five good shots in those final five minutes. They forced Mustangs sophomore goalie Josh Brown, one of the best in the southeast region, to use all of his talents – diving, grabbing and tipping balls away from the net.
“They just wouldn't stop,” Brown said. “They were really putting the pressure on.”
When it was finally done, Mustangs coach Bucky McCarley said the fans had made a big difference for his team.
A crowd of more than 1,800 stood for most of the game at Gus Purcell Stadium.
“That's what home field advantage is all about,” McCarley said. “That's generation after generation of Myers Park soccer players in the stand.”
That crowd saw Myers Park (23-0) dominate the first half. The Mustangs, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 4 in ESPN's national poll, got goals from Jordan Debastani and Ruben Perez in the first 20 minutes.
They had two good chances to go up 3-0 in the second half, before South's Alejandro Rodriguez jammed in a long kick with 13:21 to play and the Sabres, ranked No. 6 in the state, grabbed command.
Myers Park will play either Northwest Guilford (19-1-1), No. 2 in the state, or No. 10 East Forsyth in the state semifinals, likely Tuesday at Myers Park.
