Boys soccer: Cox crowned in Eastern Region

NORFOLK

Scott Mead’s inaugural season as coach of the Cox boys soccer team is turning out pretty much as planned – two down, one to go.

“When we first selected the team before the season, we had a meeting and we made our goals for the year,” Mead said. “Three of them were district, region and state.”

Part 2 of the master plan was handled Friday at Powhatan Field, where the Falcons dismantled Hickory 3-0 to win the Eastern Region title. It was Cox’s second region crown in a row, 11th overall and first for Mead.

Cox (18-2-1) hosts the loser of the Northwest Region final between Patrick Henry and Gar-Field in a Group AAA quarterfinal double-header Tuesday at Powhatan. The Cox girls – also region winners – open the evening against the Northwest Region runner-up.

Hickory (14-5-1) travels Tuesday to face the Northwest champion.

“We’ve got a second chance and it’s back to you lose and you’re out,” Hawks coach Eric Blackmore said. “I feel pretty confident about our chances.

“But Cox is good. And they were better than us tonight.”

Cox controlled possession early in the match and took the only lead it would turn out to need with 19:06 to play in the first half. Paul Braunstien pounced on a ball that had deflected off a Hickory defender, easily beating Hawks keeper Andrew McMillan, who dived to the left post in an attempt to stop the initial shot.

The Falcons got the insurance approximately 17 minutes later, capping a 3-on-2 break. Cox kept McMillan on the move before Hunter Byrnes took a shot that was saved by McMillan. But the keeper was stuck on the left post with the ball loose in the center, where David Ellis easily poked it into the wide-open net.

“I think we were definitely the better team on the ball tonight,” Ellis said. “This is huge because we get to play next here and it’s always good to win a region title.”

Ellis assisted on the final goal, which came with 10 minutes left in the match. He pushed the ball down the right side and cut to the right before sending a cross to Will Martin, who was left undefended.

“Our young talent is amazing,” Mead said. “Our goal is always to possess the ball and always out-possess the other team. There were a couple of times tonight when we gave possession away. But what I love about these kids is that they quickly regained.”

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

Eastern Region final

Cox 3, Hickory 0

G—Braunstien, Ellis, Martin.