Hickory Ridge now on a 3 game loosing streak and looking for answers as they go into the last week of the regular season. Concord scored on its first possession of the game and never looked back. The Bulls never got started on offense. A pass interception set the Spiders up on the Ragin' Bulls 15 yard line. One play and Concord QB hit the wide out for 15 yard TD strike. Next Bulls series ended with another interception, this time a pick 6 making the Concord lead 21-0 with 3 minutes to go in the 1st quarter.
The Bulls really settled down on defense and held the spiders in check over the second 12 minute period, but the lack of offense made for a cold long night for the Hickory Ridge fans.
The Spiders took the second half kickoff and again scored on their opening drive. Another TD later on made the score 35-0. It was midway through the 4th quarter before your Ragin' Bulls found the end zone. Brian Baltimore scored after several hard runs by Cody Cothern set the bulls deep into Spider territory.
Next up for HRHS is a visit to JM Robinson Bull Dogs. The final regular season game is a must win for a chance to make it into the playoffs.
Around the league, AL Brown stays perfect at (6-0) after winning against North West (3-3). Concord (5-1) is firmly in second place after tonight's game. This effectively sets up a SPC championship game next week against AL Brown.
The next tier is Cox Mill (4-2) after beating JM Robinson (2-4). Hickory Ridge (3-3) is tied with North West, although NW owns the tie breaker.
So with 1 week left the standing in SPC:
AL Brown 6-0
Concord 5-1
Cox Mill 4-2
NW Cabarrus 3-3
HRHS 3-3
Mt Pleasant 1-4
CCHS 0-5
Go Bulls!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Bulls soccer finish 3rd in SPC
On Monday of this week, the Bulls were in 1st place in the SPC, 11th in the State in the 3A division, and riding high. After Tuesday's night affair with Concord, they were clinging to slim hopes of 1st place with confidence shaken in the SPC after they lost to Concord 4-1. As of Wednesday night after the conference finale loss to Jay M. Robinson 4-0, they no longer harbor illusions of a conference championship, no longer walk with a swagger of invincibility, and stagger into the playoffs state playoffs with questions and doubt. Instead of writing about a victorious finale against conference foe Jay M. Robinson, instead of writing about beautiful soccer and team togetherness, instead of writing about even pulling a tie out of the finale that would have guaranteed the Bulls a 2nd place finish in the SPC, anyone associated with Hickory Ridge soccer is wondering what went wrong in 2 short days.
What IS clear is the Bulls finished 3rd in the SPC, their highest ever finish in their 4 short years of existence, and will play Weddington at Weddington next week in the State Playoffs. What is also clear is the Bulls finish with a best ever overall record of 15-4-1 and conference record of 11-3. So despite the disappointment of the past week, the Ragin' men have something to be proud of and hopefully build upon as they continue their quest to raise the bar for Hickory Ridge soccer by winning a playoff game.
Go Bulls!
What IS clear is the Bulls finished 3rd in the SPC, their highest ever finish in their 4 short years of existence, and will play Weddington at Weddington next week in the State Playoffs. What is also clear is the Bulls finish with a best ever overall record of 15-4-1 and conference record of 11-3. So despite the disappointment of the past week, the Ragin' men have something to be proud of and hopefully build upon as they continue their quest to raise the bar for Hickory Ridge soccer by winning a playoff game.
Go Bulls!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Bulls soccer suffer 2nd conference defeat
The last time the Hickory Ridge Bulls lost a soccer match it was in Concord 11 games ago. The next loss was suffered tonight against that same Concord team by nearly the same score. Not a way to celebrate senior night in the last regular season home game of the 2010 campaign. Indeed, the game was not even 15 seconds old when the Bulls suffered a key injury to starting left fullback Garrett Hill that sent him to the sidelines for the night with a left shoulder injury. On the ensuing free kick, Concord scored the first goal on a 2nd rebound shot after the first 2 were successfully thwarted by Sr. keeper Drew Andreotti. And just like that, the Bulls were on their heels playing defensively the rest of the first half. Hickory Ridge did miss a golden opportunity to equalize when a free kick of our own sailed over all the defenders to Jr. Brandon Castillo who had a wide open net, but unfortunately Brandon was unable to get a good leg on it and the shot caromed to the Spiders goal keepers waiting arms. Concord scored their 2nd goal with 2:02 remaining in the first and that's how the half ended.
The resolute Bulls kept their composure to start the 2nd half and immediately went on the offensive putting good pressure on the Spiders defense. Unfortunately, the Bulls got caught in a counter-attack that left them in a 3-0 deficit with 33:45 left in the game. Rather than fold on this senior night, the Bulls continued attacking and returned to the style of play that made them successful all year, albeit a bit too late. The ragin' men were finally rewarded with about 5 minutes to go in the contest with a penalty kick that Sr. Alex Batson neatly placed past the Spiders keeper to make the score 3-1. Unfortunately, the men ran out of steam, gave up a PK of their own in the last seconds of the contest that was successfully converted by Concord, and the heavily contested game came to a sputtering close, 4-1 Concord.
There is still a slim chance for a conference championship, but 2 losses to Concord puts the Spiders in the drivers seat for their first SPC conference championship in soccer. Hickory Ridge finishes conference play Wednesday Oct. 27 at Jay M. Robinson. A victory ensures the men of no worst than 2nd place in the conference and keeps their slims hope for a championship alive.
The resolute Bulls kept their composure to start the 2nd half and immediately went on the offensive putting good pressure on the Spiders defense. Unfortunately, the Bulls got caught in a counter-attack that left them in a 3-0 deficit with 33:45 left in the game. Rather than fold on this senior night, the Bulls continued attacking and returned to the style of play that made them successful all year, albeit a bit too late. The ragin' men were finally rewarded with about 5 minutes to go in the contest with a penalty kick that Sr. Alex Batson neatly placed past the Spiders keeper to make the score 3-1. Unfortunately, the men ran out of steam, gave up a PK of their own in the last seconds of the contest that was successfully converted by Concord, and the heavily contested game came to a sputtering close, 4-1 Concord.
There is still a slim chance for a conference championship, but 2 losses to Concord puts the Spiders in the drivers seat for their first SPC conference championship in soccer. Hickory Ridge finishes conference play Wednesday Oct. 27 at Jay M. Robinson. A victory ensures the men of no worst than 2nd place in the conference and keeps their slims hope for a championship alive.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Ragin' Bulls left to Wonder after AL Brown wins 28-13
Kannapolis Wonders stay unbeaten in SPC play after beating Hickory Ridge 28-13 in this weeks game. The was the 4th straight win by Kannapolis over the HRHS program.
The playoff picture for Hickory Ridge is becoming a little more cloudy as the Bulls drop 2 straight with 2 conference games left. The Concord Spiders come to visit next week. Concord beat Mt Pleasant to take sole possession of 2nd place. North West Cabarrus wins against Central Cabarrus, and Cox Mill holds off Robinson. HRHS, NW and Cox Mill are now in a 3 way tie for 3rd place in conference.
Next week, Cox Mill looks to take advantage of Central Cabarrus, while North West must face off against the Kannapolis Wonders.
Stay tuned for more stats as soon as they are published.
Go Bulls!
The playoff picture for Hickory Ridge is becoming a little more cloudy as the Bulls drop 2 straight with 2 conference games left. The Concord Spiders come to visit next week. Concord beat Mt Pleasant to take sole possession of 2nd place. North West Cabarrus wins against Central Cabarrus, and Cox Mill holds off Robinson. HRHS, NW and Cox Mill are now in a 3 way tie for 3rd place in conference.
Next week, Cox Mill looks to take advantage of Central Cabarrus, while North West must face off against the Kannapolis Wonders.
Stay tuned for more stats as soon as they are published.
Go Bulls!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Bulls soccer avoids upset
No matter the sport, the adage "when you have a team down you need to put them away" is almost always true. More often than not, when your team is controlling play and you let off the pedal so to speak, you lose momentum, and then ultimately the game, match, or contest. Your 2010 men’s soccer team is either good enough to turn it on or off when they please or lucky enough the adage doesn't apply to them. It happened earlier in the season when the Bulls escaped win less Mount Pleasant with a 1-0 overtime victory and it happened again Thursday night against 6th place AL Brown (4-7 SPC). The Ragin’ Bulls (10-1 SPC) controlled the tempo and the game on the opening Kannapolis kickoff and were rewarded in the 9th minute when Adrian Ike put in a shot from 20 yards out from the middle of the field. The rout was seemingly on. But a funny thing happened on the way to a blowout. The Bulls failed to realize this was not the same team they defeated 4-1 earlier in the season. From about the time they went up 1-0, Hickory Ridge went on the defensive as the resilient AL Brown Wonders kept attacking and pressing their advantage. Finally they caught the Ragin’ men mesmerized and bounced an equalizer off the back left post into the goal with 13 minutes left in the half. And so ended the half with score knotted at 1-1. To the casual observer, Hickory Ridge was playing terribly after the first 10 minutes. Or perhaps that same casual observer thought the Wonders were playing great the last 30 minutes. Take your pick, but the message is clear, the Bulls had their hands full after letting the throttle off the gas.
The second half started with the Bulls in possession, but that lasted all of 10 seconds as the concerted attack off the kickoff was thwarted by the Wonders defense. Sure enough, barely 3 minutes into the half the Wonders scored a go ahead goal to lead 2-1. Not even 3 minutes later the Wonders had a wonderful chance to increase their margin but failed after their center mid beat seemingly the entire team to get a wide open shot that just missed wide right. That proved to be the final act to light a fire under the Bulls proverbial fannies. The Bulls switched the mythical on/off switch to on and reasserted themselves over the ensuing 15 minutes. The renewed commitment to attack was rewarded when Adrian Ike scored his second goal of the match in the 14th minute of the second half off a seemingly harmless ball sent into the center of the Kannapolis defense that Adrian was able to get his defender on his back, then turned, then put a shot off the keepers hands and into the right corner of the goal to knot the score at 2-2. Not even 3 minutes later, forward Adrian Ike took the ball into the right Kannapolis corner, sent a centering cross through the legs of a Kannapolis defender towards a streaking Matt Abbott. Rather than attempt a heavily contested shot, Abbott allowed the ball to continue on its path through his legs where a wide open Chris Faber put the uncontested shot into the far side of the goal. 3-2 Bulls just like that. That goal rejuvenated the team and elevated their effort as they fended off one attack after another and counter attacked themselves at key moments. In the end though, neither team was able to find the twine and the game ended with the scoreboard indicating Home team (Bulls) 3, Guests (Wonders) 2.
And so it is the Bulls enter their final week of the regular season 11-1-0 in conference play and in sole possession of 1st place. However, to win the SPC championship they have to play 2nd place Concord on Monday at Hickory Ridge and 3rd place Robinson, at Robinson, on Wednesday. Win both, and there is no doubt your 2010 Hickory Ridge Ragin’ Bulls are champions. Lose one, both, or tie both and the issue is in doubt. So rather than speculate, let’s celebrate. This season has exceeded all expectations. The last home game is Monday, October 25th against Concord. It is senior night. It may not be the last game at Hickory Ridge for the seniors, but it is the last game that is guaranteed and will go a long way in deciding the final conference standings. Hope to see you there.
Go Bulls!
The second half started with the Bulls in possession, but that lasted all of 10 seconds as the concerted attack off the kickoff was thwarted by the Wonders defense. Sure enough, barely 3 minutes into the half the Wonders scored a go ahead goal to lead 2-1. Not even 3 minutes later the Wonders had a wonderful chance to increase their margin but failed after their center mid beat seemingly the entire team to get a wide open shot that just missed wide right. That proved to be the final act to light a fire under the Bulls proverbial fannies. The Bulls switched the mythical on/off switch to on and reasserted themselves over the ensuing 15 minutes. The renewed commitment to attack was rewarded when Adrian Ike scored his second goal of the match in the 14th minute of the second half off a seemingly harmless ball sent into the center of the Kannapolis defense that Adrian was able to get his defender on his back, then turned, then put a shot off the keepers hands and into the right corner of the goal to knot the score at 2-2. Not even 3 minutes later, forward Adrian Ike took the ball into the right Kannapolis corner, sent a centering cross through the legs of a Kannapolis defender towards a streaking Matt Abbott. Rather than attempt a heavily contested shot, Abbott allowed the ball to continue on its path through his legs where a wide open Chris Faber put the uncontested shot into the far side of the goal. 3-2 Bulls just like that. That goal rejuvenated the team and elevated their effort as they fended off one attack after another and counter attacked themselves at key moments. In the end though, neither team was able to find the twine and the game ended with the scoreboard indicating Home team (Bulls) 3, Guests (Wonders) 2.
Sr. Eric Frederick clears a ball off the Bulls endline in the first half of the Bulls 3-2 victory over AL Brown
And so it is the Bulls enter their final week of the regular season 11-1-0 in conference play and in sole possession of 1st place. However, to win the SPC championship they have to play 2nd place Concord on Monday at Hickory Ridge and 3rd place Robinson, at Robinson, on Wednesday. Win both, and there is no doubt your 2010 Hickory Ridge Ragin’ Bulls are champions. Lose one, both, or tie both and the issue is in doubt. So rather than speculate, let’s celebrate. This season has exceeded all expectations. The last home game is Monday, October 25th against Concord. It is senior night. It may not be the last game at Hickory Ridge for the seniors, but it is the last game that is guaranteed and will go a long way in deciding the final conference standings. Hope to see you there.
Go Bulls!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Bulls Soccer Cruises Past Northwest Cabarrus
Sometimes soccer is thrilling and full of drama, sometimes it's frustrating, sometimes it's a physical battle....and then there was the match pitting the Ragin’ Bulls against the Northwest Cabarrus Trojans and NWCHS. Whatever drama this game promised was quickly dampened by the Bulls as Adrian Ike scored on a 20 yard right footed screamer in the 4th minute of the game that tested the fasteners of the back right corner netting. The Bulls keeper Drew Andreotti put the next nail in the drama coffin by making 2 outstanding diving saves, one to his left just as the ball was to cross the end line and one to his right about 10 yards out from the goal mouth a few minutes later. After that, the Trojans never really threatened again as the defense kept pestering and frustrating any Northwest attackers that got near to getting a shot off. The drama was completely sucked out of the game in a 1:08 span with about 12 minutes to go in the half. It started when right winger Alex Batson sent a cross to the top of the box where forward Matt Abbott spun his defender and rifled a left footed shot that was deflected by a great effort from the Trojan keeper. Unfortunately for the Trojan keeper though, left winger Brandon Castillo never gave up on the ball and rushed on to put the rebound into the back left corner of the net. 1:08 seconds later, Matt Abbott scored off an assist from Adrian Ike to make it 3-0 Bulls. Just like that the morale of the home team was broken and the game was never again in doubt.
The second half started much like the first in terms of a quick strike. In the 8th minute center defender Eric Frederick sent a right footed hook shot up and over the wall bending into the front right corner of the goal for a 4-0 lead. The final scoring was capped by Sophomore forward Kincaid Albers running onto a long ball and chipping it over the onrushing keeper to make it 5-0 Bulls with 5 minutes to go in the contest. The victory puts Hickory Ridge at 10-1-0 in conference play, 14-2-1 overall. Hickory Ridge moved up one spot in the state rankings to 12th in the 3A classification and moved up to number 9 in the Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 which ranks the top 16 teams in the Charlotte Observer subscription area, regardless of school classification. Congratulations men, keep the momentum going
Midfielder Chris Faber weaves through the Northwest Cabaurrs defenders
The second half started much like the first in terms of a quick strike. In the 8th minute center defender Eric Frederick sent a right footed hook shot up and over the wall bending into the front right corner of the goal for a 4-0 lead. The final scoring was capped by Sophomore forward Kincaid Albers running onto a long ball and chipping it over the onrushing keeper to make it 5-0 Bulls with 5 minutes to go in the contest. The victory puts Hickory Ridge at 10-1-0 in conference play, 14-2-1 overall. Hickory Ridge moved up one spot in the state rankings to 12th in the 3A classification and moved up to number 9 in the Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 which ranks the top 16 teams in the Charlotte Observer subscription area, regardless of school classification. Congratulations men, keep the momentum going
Saturday, October 16, 2010
SPC Varsity Football Conference Tightens
Kannapolis is now the clear leader of the SPC title race. The Wonders stand alone at the top at 4-0 while both Concord and Hickory Ridge stumbled this past week. The road for the Ragin' Bulls goes right through AL Brown and Concord in the next 2 weeks. Understatement of the season, a tough 2 weeks to try and get back to the winning ways. Concord was upset by Cox Mill at home.
SPC Standings:
AL Brown- 4-0 on a 7 game win streak
Concord- 3-1 lost to the trickery of Cox Mill
Hickory Ridge- 3-1 let the game at NW get away from them
Northwest- 2-2 Defense held strong against the Bulls
Cox Mill- 2-2 Too many tricks to mention
Robinson- 2-2 Bulldogs hanging around
Mt Pleasant- 0-4 No bite to these tigers
Central- 0-4 "no comment"
Send your comments about the NW game to maximusthebull@gmail.com and we'll post the best ones, anonymously.
Go Bulls!
SPC Standings:
AL Brown- 4-0 on a 7 game win streak
Concord- 3-1 lost to the trickery of Cox Mill
Hickory Ridge- 3-1 let the game at NW get away from them
Northwest- 2-2 Defense held strong against the Bulls
Cox Mill- 2-2 Too many tricks to mention
Robinson- 2-2 Bulldogs hanging around
Mt Pleasant- 0-4 No bite to these tigers
Central- 0-4 "no comment"
Send your comments about the NW game to maximusthebull@gmail.com and we'll post the best ones, anonymously.
Go Bulls!
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