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The top ranked T. C. Roberson Rams soccer team (27-0-0) steamrolled the Ragsdale Tigers (21-5-0) at Roberson's Guy Ensley Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night, November 13, before a record home crowd in excess of 2,200 fans, perhaps the largest crowd to witness a soccer match in Western North Carolina (see top photo on right). The win over Ragsdale gave the Rams the North Carolina Western Division 3A Championship, and Roberson will now travel to Raleigh this Saturday, November 16, to play in the Class 3A State Finals at 2:00 P. M. at Broughton High School in Raleigh against eighth-ranked White Oak High School.
The Rams quickly took the lead with 36:18 minutes remaining in the first half on a goal by JT LaBruyere. Once again, the Rams, ranked number one in the nation for the last several weeks by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, seemed to have an extra step in speed and skills over the visiting Ragsdale Tigers. Roberson scored its second goal with less than fifteen minutes in the first half on a goal by Adam Schwartz to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Brian Fitzmaurice scored the final goal of the half to give the Rams a 3-0 lead at half time.
Beginning in the second half, any hopes the Ragsdale Tigers had of staging a second half rally were quickly dashed by Todd Byard's goal with 37:11 remaining in the game, giving the Rams a 4-0 lead. The large Roberson cheering contingent roared with approval after Byard's goal, and chants of "Raleigh," "Raleigh," could be heard throughout the stadium. Roberson's Caleb Alexander scored the highlight goal of the evening by crafting a beautiful curving shot that had just enough break on it to slip into the corner of the net past the outstretched hands of the Tiger goalie, giving the Rams a 5-0 lead.
Ragsdale finally scored with less than seven minutes to play after most of Roberson's starters had been taken out of the game. Brad Moody scored Roberson's final goal with less than four minutes remaining in the game giving the Rams a 6-1 lead.
Roberson will play eighth-ranked White Oak High School, winner of the Eastern Division championship game against fourth-ranked Glenn High School, in the North Carolina 3A State Championship game Saturday in Raleigh at 2:00 P. M. at Broughton High School, 723 Saint Mary's Street, 27605, (919-856-7810). Congratulations to the Roberson Rams soccer team, and good luck in the championship game. Directions to Broughton High School:
Western NC (Via Greensboro (1-40, I-85)
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