North Moore not only picked up a 2-0 boys’ soccer win over Gray Stone Monday, it also secured second place in the conference standings and a first-round state 1-A playoff game at home.

The Mustangs moved to 7-1-1 in Yadkin Valley Conference play. East Montgomery earned the regular-season conference championship by handing the Mustangs their only loss. The two teams also tied once this season. North Moore is 9-4-1 overall.

Pedro Ugarte and Iban Catalan scored a goal each for the Mustangs in Monday’s win.

North Moore played a workmanlike game, according to Mustang coach Michael Shamberger, and were steady throughout against a Gray Stone team that was obviously playing for a chance to get a wild-card spot in the state playoffs.

The Mustangs opened the scoring with 12:46 left in the first half when Ugarte took a long-range free kick. The Knights’ keeper mishandled the ball and Catalan was in the right place to grab the rebound and place it in the goal for a 1-0 North Moore lead.

At halftime, Shamberger said he challenged his team to take their game to the next level. The team responded positively and played tougher defense and connected with better passes, according to Shamberger, keeping Gray Stone on its heels and the Mustangs attacking.

After North Moore failed to convert several scoring chances in the second half, the Mustangs broke through for their second goal at the 13:51 mark of the second half.

Luis Solache took the ball down the right side and made a cross that Ugarte controlled and blasted home from 12 yards out for a 2-0 lead and the final score.

The Mustangs also got their sixth shutout of 14 games this season. Danny Garcia was the keeper and had a pair of very nice saves during the game.

North Moore finishes regular-season play with a conference contest against Albemarle tonight (Wednesday).

The Mustangs will honor five senior players during the game, which begins at 6:30 p.m.