Lady Vike Booters Score Big Comeback

The Union Pines girls’ soccer team opened the Cape Fear Valley conference season in dramatic fashion Friday, scoring two goals in the final eight minutes to top Southern Lee 3-2 in Sanford.

After trailing 2-0 at intermission, the Lady Vikings were finally able to get on the board in the second half when a goal by sophomore Madi Kramer made the score 2-1.

From there, Union Pines stayed on the offensive but could not get the game-tying shot to go in the goal. That changed in the 73rd minute of action when Kramer scored again, this time on an assist from junior captain Carly Lively to knot the league clash at 2-all.

With 2:08 left to play in regulation, Viking junior fullback Jessie Wilson managed to get the game winning goal past the keeper after a corner kick from Kramer.

The Vikes are now 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in league play after scoring the comeback win. Wilson’s goal was her first since being sidelined early last season with an ACL injury.

Southern Lee’s record moved to 2-2 with the loss and 0-1 in CFVC play.

Union Pines’ junior varsity girls’ soccer team also picked up a win Friday. With a 3-0 victory over Southern Lee the squad improved to 1-1 on the season and 1-0 in CFVC play.

Both Lady Viking soccer teams hit the field again Monday for CFVC action against Overhills in Spring Lake. The J.V. match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Pinecrest Girls Fall To Leesville Road

The Pinecrest girls’ soccer team’s brutal week of matches against highly ranked sides ended with a 3-0 loss at No. 1 Leesville Road Friday evening.

The Patriots (2-3-1) begin Southeastern Conference play with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Richmond Senior on Monday. This past week included a 3-0 defeat against the No. 2 ranked 3A team, Cardinal Gibbons, on Monday and a 1-1 tie with No. 7 Hoggard on Wednesday.

Playing without three-year captain Kate Hieronymus, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Hoggard game, the Patriots fell behind Leesville 2-0 in the first half. The second goal came on a penalty kick.

Mariotti Meyers and Kathryn Palmer were both denied on promising scoring opportunities early in the second half. The Pats also missed a penalty kick after Antonia Meyers was taken down in the penalty box before the Pride (4-0) put the match out of reach with their final goal.

U.P. Boys Golf Win League Opener

The Viking golf team took the first Cape Fear Valley conference meet of the year Monday at Carolina Lakes in Sanford.

Defending CFVC champion Union Pines tallied a score of 308 to place first. Southern Lee took second with 347 points, while Western Harnett and Overhills each had a total of 361 to finish tied for third place

Viking senior captain Conner Reilly shot a 72 to earn medalist honors at the meet. Last season, Reilly was the league runner-up in final individual standings.

Returning 2010 all-conference performers Cody Roberts (74) Jake Sauer (81) and Ethan Harris (81) rounded out U.P.'s top-four scorers at the match.

Union Pines plays its second CFVC match Monday afternoon at Carolina Trace C.C. in Sanford.

Viking Tennis Rolls On

The Union Pines boys improved to 4-0 in league play and 5-0 overall with a sweep against Westover (0-2) in Cape Fear Valley Conference tennis action Tuesday.

The homestanding Vikings got 8-0 singles wins from John Dangerfield, Jon Fondrie and Jay Stalls, while Adam Howard won by forfeit.

In doubles play, Fondrie teamed with Stalls for an 8-0 sweep. The victory was Fondrie’s 71st career win at U.P. Howard and Jacob Daniel also paired-up to win their match 8-0, while the Vikes took the other doubles’ contest by default. Daniel now has 38 career wins as a Viking

On the season, Union Pines has not lost an individual singles’ or doubles’ match, as the Vikings are now a perfect 45-0 in competition through five dual team matches.

Union Pines returns to league action Monday against Southern Lee in Sanford.