HS Soccer Stop: Weddington ‘forced’ into tough schedule; Sweet 16 poll, featured games

The schedule was a prep soccer version of Murderers’ Row – Ardrey Kell, Charlotte Country Day, Cox Mill, Myers Park, Providence.

Combined, those teams have a record of 55-14-6.

That was Weddington’s nonconference schedule this season.

“I don’t know,” Warriors’ coach Powell Williams says with a laugh. “I guess only the good teams wanted to play us.”

But members of his team say Weddington’s rugged nonconference slate has prepared them for life in the Southern Carolina 4A Conference, and for the playoffs beyond.

“We used it as a test,” says midfielder Tucker Kern. “Those kinds of games helped us prove our worth.”

“It helped us play together better, to rely on each other,” adds forward Everett Scott.

Kern and Scott are juniors, as are several other starters, including leading scorer Eli Petko, who has 12 goals and two assists. Scott is second, with seven goals and five assists.

Weddington got through the tough early-season tests with an 8-2 record, losing to Cox Mill and to Myers Park, each by 2-1 scores. The Warriors beat Providence 2-1, whipped Charlotte Country Day (11-4) by a 6-0 score, and beat Ardrey Kell twice.

Last Wednesday, the Warriors opened conference play with a 4-0 blanking of a Sun Valley team that entered with an 8-1-2 record. Monday evening, they host a 10-1-2 Piedmont team in another conference match. Also still ahead is Porter Ridge (9-2-1).

“Most of our conference games seem to be close,” Scott says. “It’s a tough league. That’s how the early-season schedule helped us.”

Kern and Scott say the Sept. 6 loss to Cox Mill particularly spurred the team to improve.

“That loss really motivated us,” Kern says. “We knew we could do better. I think we’ve played better since then.”

Williams says his team learned a lot about itself in the latter part of August and early September.

“You want to see how you do against those big-name teams,” he says. “Now we know what we have to bring, in order to win those matches.”

He says the difference between facing a Myers Park or a Providence, versus a match against a lower-run team, “is the speed and tempo of the game. It’s different.”

Williams says the biggest surprise he’s had so far has been the Warriors’ depth.

“I’ve learned that I can play 24 guys, but not lose anything,” he says. “No matter who we have in there, we’ve been able to maintain a high level of play.”

Kern says there is a difference between this year’s Weddington team and the 2021 version, which finished 14-4-3 and reached the third round of the playoffs before losing 1-0 to Providence.

“We’re more disciplined on defense,” Kern says. “And we have better movement. Those are things we’ve worked hard on.”

Williams said this year’s team also won’t quit.

“These guys always give everything they’ve got,” he says. “They’re a lot of fun to work with.”

Big matches this week

MONDAY

St. Stephens (8-1) at East Lincoln (7-2-3), 7 p.m. – These two teams are chasing Hickory in the Western Foothills 3A race.

Piedmont (10-1-2) at No. 4 Weddington (8-2), 7 p.m. – After going unbeaten in nonconference play, Piedmont dropped its Southern Carolina 4A opener last week to Porter Ridge. The Panthers face an even tougher task here.

TUESDAY

Shelby (7-1-2) at No. 13 Forestview (7-0), 7 p.m. – Forestview steps outside conference play for a battle with the tough Golden Lions.

No. 6 Lake Norman (8-1-4) at No. 2 Cox Mill (8-0-4), 7 p.m. – This might be the Match of the Week in the Charlotte region, with the Greater Metro 4 4A lead on the line.

WEDNESDAY

No. 8 Hough (7-4-1) at Hopewell (8-2-2), 7 p.m. – First place in the Queen City 3A-4A is at stake in this battle of north Mecklenburg powers.

No. 12 Christ the King (5-2-5) at No. 11 Pine Lake Prep (11-1), 7 p.m. – The defending 1A state champions visit Pine Lake Prep, a 2A power which has lost only to 4A Myers Park this season.

THURSDAY

No. 2 Cox Mill (8-0-4) at Hickory Ridge (8-1-2), 7 p.m. – While Cox Mill and Lake Norman have gathered the headlines, Hickory Ridge has built a strong playoff resume. This is yet another big Greater Metro 4 battle.

Ardrey Kell (7-3-1) at No. 1 Myers Park (9-1), 7 p.m. – Ardrey Kell has won six in a row after a slow start.

Charlotte Latin (7-5-1) at Charlotte Country Day (11-4), 7 p.m. – It’s a key match in the CISAA race, with playoff seeding implications also at stake.

Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle

The Observer’s Sweet 16 Poll

Dropped out: Charlotte Latin (Ind.); Mooresville (4A); Butler (4A). In contention: St. Stephens (3A, 8-1); Hickory Ridge (8-1-2, 4A); Bandys (10-0, 2A); Piedmont (10-1-2, 4A); Hopewell (8-2-2, 4A); Jay M. Robinson (10-1-1, 2A); Union Academy (7-2-1, 1A); Charlotte Latin (6-5-1, Ind.); Shelby (7-1-2, 2A).