CFNN Reporter Ava Lucketta

The Cape Fear varsity boys’ soccer team beat Pine Forest twice last week, winning 5-0 on the road Tuesday and 6-1 at home Wednesday to improve to 3-3.

The Colts opened the week at Pine Forest on Aug. 25 and led 2-0 at the half. Sophomore Josiah Gephardt scored first, and junior Aiden Hale converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute.

The Colts added three more after the break. Gephardt scored his second in the 45th minute, freshman Owen Griffie followed in the 71st minute with the first varsity goal of his career, and junior Cameron Hall closed the scoring in the 80th. Keeper Breeze Lutz preserved the shutout.

The teams met again Aug. 26 at Cape Fear, where the Colts built a 3-1 halftime lead. Sophomore Ibrahim Yasana struck in the fifth minute, and Griffie and Hall added goals before Pine Forest answered late in the half.

Sophomore Landon Edkins scored his first of the season in the 48th minute, Griffie added his third of the season early in the half, and Hale finished the scoring with a header to seal the 6-1 win.

Afterward, head coach Bryan Pagan discussed the team and their performance.

“[The team is] a work in progress, with a really hard schedule, probably the hardest schedule I’ve made for both the boys and girls since I’ve been here,” said Pagan.

Pagan then pointed to his returning players. “We have a lot of returners from last year that didn’t really play a whole lot, but got their experience from training,” he said.

Griffie, who scored three times across the two games, said playing varsity as a freshman is “pretty cool, I got my first goals this week, and I was really excited. I’m looking forward to the playoffs to see how we do and hopefully get past the second round.”

The Colts host Lee County on Sept. 1 and Hoke County on Sept. 2. Both games start at 7 p.m. Be sure to come out and support your team!