North Moore started its boys’ soccer conference slate Monday with a convincing 3-0 win at Gray Stone Day School.

“This was a big win for North Moore, as Gray Stone was the No. 2 team in the conference last year,” said Mustang coach Michael Shamberger. “This Mustang team continues to improve, and is just now beginning to figure out its own identity and what it needs to do as a team to secure a win.”

The game started as a back-and-forth encounter, but after the first 10 minutes the Mustangs began to control most of the possession and were able to keep pressure on the Knights’ defense.

The first goal from North Moore came on an assist from Pedro Ugarte on a ball that was chipped over the defense, allowing Juan Garcia to run onto it and tap the ball past the keeper and into the goal. Garcia’s goal stood until at halftime, as the Mustangs took a 1-0 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Knights came out strong in an effort to take over the momentum.

The Mustangs weathered their run, then took the momentum back with counter attacks and possession. With about 14 minutes left in the game the Mustangs took a long shot. It rebounded off the keeper and Gerbacio Cabrera was in the right place to stick the rebound in the net for a 2-0 lead.

As the game was winding down, and with only 40 seconds to play, Ugarte sent a ball up to Cabrera, who then one-touched it to the left side to Rolando Catalan, who lofted a strong shot over the keeper’s hands for the final 3-0 score.

Alejandro Mendoza was the keeper for North Moore and had an especially beautiful save, said Shamberger, about midway through the second half, as he dove upward and to his left in order to deflect a hard shot from the Knights.

One of the tasks Shamberger said he has given his players is to improve in the mental aspect of the game. He has been telling them to be prepared to take the game to the opponents rather than sitting back waiting for the other team to take the initiative.

Shamberger said the Mustang players were much more aggressive than they have been in two of their three losses.

North Moore is now 2-3 overall (1-0 in the Yadkin Valley Conference). The Mustangs have a home game against the Rebel Bulls of South Stanly Wednesday. The game begins at 6:30 p.m.