The North Moore boys’ soccer team had a real battle on its hands when it traveled to Albemarle Wednesday. Both teams were undefeated in Yadkin Valley Conference action with 1-0 marks, along with East Montgomery. At the end of regulation, the match was tied 2-2 after the Mustangs had taken a quick 1-0 lead in the first minute and a half in the opening half.

The Mustangs had couple of defensive breakdowns, allowing the host Bulldogs to take a 2-1 lead. North Moore bounced back, tying the match with nine minutes left in the half. Neither team could muster a goal in the second half, sending the contest into overtime where the Mustangs iced the match with a pair of goals for a 4-2 overtime victory.

“This was a very intense and hard fought game, but I expected it to be that way,” said North Moore coach Michael Shamberger. “Both teams were 1-0 in conference play, so this was an early-season clash for first place lead in the Yadkin Valley Conference.

“The entire team played very well, other than the two early defensive mistakes and we gave a strong effort.”

It didn’t take long for the Mustangs to get on the scoreboard when in the second minute of action junior Alejandro Mendoza sent a cross field pass to sophomore Fernando Lopez, who punched the ball into the goal for a quick 1-0 lead.

It was Lopez’s first goal of the season.

The Mustangs controlled possession of the ball for much of the game except for a four-minute period during the midway point of the first half. A couple of defensive miscues resulted in a pair of goals for the Bulldogs, giving them a 2-1 lead.

“After the two quick goals, the defense settled down and played with composure,” said Shamberger.

With just under nine minutes left in the opening half, sophomore Pedro Ugarte sailed a free kick into the Bulldogs’ net from 20 yards out, tying the match 2-2.

In the second half, the Mustangs kept the ball for much of the period on their offensive side of the field while the North Moore defenders played smothering defense, keeping Albemarle from getting into its stride. Regulation ended with the two teams tied at 2-2.

During the overtime period, Mendoza took a couple of dribbles at the top of the box and shot low towards the Bulldogs’ goal. The shot deflected off an Albemarle defender and went in the goal for a 3-2 lead. North Moore added an insurance goal with less than two minutes left in the extra period when Ugarte received a pass on a breakaway and beat the goalkeeper for his team-high fifth goal of the season.

The Mustangs’ goalkeeper for the match was sophomore Danny Garcia, who finished with two saves.

Ugarte had two goals during the match with Lopez and Mendoza scoring one goal each. Mendoza now has three goals in three matches. Mendoza had a pair of assists and Luis Solache had one assist.

The Mustangs are now 2-0 in conference action and 3-0 overall, while Albemarle drops to 1-1 in league play and 1-2 overall.

North Moore steps out of conference action when it travels to undefeated 4-A Richmond Senior Sept. 4. The match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. The Mustangs’ next home match is Sept. 5 when they host South Stanly in a conference match. The match is slated to start at 6:30 p.m.