Green Hope Soccer - Generic Graphic
Nov 21, 2009
CARY — Senior forward Rob Lovejoy scored a hat trick as he led Greensboro Page to a convincing 4-0 victory over Green Hope in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A men's soccer championship on Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Lovejoy earned Most Valuable Player honors as Page won its fifth NCHSAA state championship in men's soccer but its first since 1983. The Pirates were playing in their eighth state final but this was Page's first berth in the championship in 15 years.
Page dominated play early and led 2-0 at the half on a pair of Lovejoy goals. In the 12th minute, he headed a ball down, controlled it and then shot and scored, and five minutes later tallied again to make it 2-0.
A penalty kick by Glen Long six minutes into the second half put the Pirates up 3-0, and then Lovejoy closed out the scoring in the 60th minute, scoring off an assist from sophomore midfielder Hassen Kouyateh.
The Pirates finished 22-0-2 and won their last 10 matches in a row, including outscoring its opponents 20-1 in the state playoffs. Green Hope, in the finals for the first time since 2001, ended the season 19-5-2 and suffered its first loss in 19 games.
Class 4-A Championship
Cary Green Hope 0 0 -- 0
Greensboro Page 2 2 -- 4
SCORING
12th minute Page--Rob Lovejoy
17th minute Page--Rob Lovejoy
46th minute Page--Glen Long penalty kick
60th minute Page--Rob Lovejoy (Hassen Kouyateh)
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