All photos in gallery below by Jocelyn Ratti/Shorelines Yearbook and Amy Wrenn/Nighthawk News
By Byrde Wells, Sports Editor
After last year’s early-round loss in the NCHSAA 2-A state playoffs, the men’s varsity soccer team entered this season with a chip on its shoulder. Once again going through the regular season undefeated, First Flight is now ready to pick up on the same page where it left off last year.
Except this time, a loss won’t be acceptable.
Although the team sports a 15-0-2 overall record heading Saturday’s playoff opener, the Nighthawks had to overcome a rough start, playing very close games with many non-conference teams. However, the team was able to regain its footing by the middle of the season.
“We have definitely been playing much better (now) than the beginning of this season,” coach Juan Ramirez said. “We have matured more and feel more comfortable with the system we are playing.”
Ramirez, who has coached two First Flight soccer teams to the state championship game in the last four years, is taking a different approach to this year’s playoffs after last year’s second-round upset by Northeastern High School.
“Don’t underestimate the opponent no matter if you have played them or not,” Ramirez said. “(Our) major strength is that we are playing as a team and we are helping each other out, everyone is part of the team environment. However, we sometimes try to play to the level of another team and not focus on the things we can do.”
This approach has not only resonated with Ramirez, but also the players. The pain of last year’s loss is still burned into their memories.
“Last year’s loss is still locked in my memory forever. I’m very sad with what happened,” senior centerback Miller Cipriano said. “But that’s a good thing because it’s gonna really fuel me to get better this year and get to that state championship.”
Cipriano is the leader of the vaunted Nighthawks’ defense, which has only allowed four goals on the season. He holds not only himself but the whole defensive front to a high standard: “I’m definitely the fastest and strongest (centerback) in the east, never been out ran on the field,” Cipriano said. “We help out our goalkeepers.”
For the seniors on the team, many memories have been made in their four years in the First Flight soccer program. However, the things they will miss the most happen to be the most simple.
“(I’m going to miss) the atmosphere of the games and having a good time playing with my friends, all the fans coming out and playing on the stadium field,” senior Tommy Scott said.
Game time is 6 on Saturday at the football stadium, with the No. 1-seeded Nighthawks taking on the No. 16 seed West Bladen High School. Tickets will cost $6. Passes are not accepted in playoff games per NCHSAA rules. View the entire 2A bracket here.
“The No. 1 goal we’ve had for the season is to make sure we play as a team, that everybody is enjoying the whole season, and for the seniors to have excellent memories of their senior year, to be student-athletes,” Ramirez said. “We would love for everybody to be there to come and cheer us. It’s gonna be great weather for soccer. The boys are really ready to play, we’ve had great practices this week and we’re ready to roll. I don’t think it matters who comes to us: we will be ready for them.”
Senior Byrde Wells can be reached at wellsje1210@daretolearn.org.
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