Conference
After a challenging 2023 season in which the team finished winless, this year’s remarkable turnaround saw the Eagles finish with an 11-8-1 record, marking a memorable soccer season.
The season started with mixed results. Early, high, losses to strong teams like Rocky Mount (2:11), Faith Cristian (0:4), and Haels Christian Academy (2:5) exposed weaknesses like not having played too much together but practice, some time and long bus rides, the team grew together.
The work paid off. The team began to find their rhythm midway through the season, earning huge wins over teams like Washington Montesseti (7-3), Ridgecraft (6-0), and Crist Covenant (6:1). They also managed to win their game against Faith Christian academy. This game showed the improvement since the beginning of the season.
At the 2nd game against Rocky Mount, Declan Mulligan got a head injury and needed to go to the hospital. Oakwood lost that game 2:11 because the thoughts were somewhere else. But this started something else. The team grew together and became even stronger than before.
One of the season’s most memorable moments came on Senior Night, when the Eagles put on a brilliant performance, defeating Hauel Christian Academy 4-1 in front of a big home crowd.
That victory secured Oakwood’s spot in the 1A playoffs and marked a nice ending of Riley Morrison’s, Marcus Gillikin’s, Winston Bates’, and Nate Quesnel ‘s last Conference home game as an Eagle.
The Playoffs
To start their playoffs, the Eagles hosted the Albermarle school. In a surprisingly easy match, the Eagles beat their guests with 4:1.
In the Quarterfinals, Oakwood traveled far to face the Cresset Christian Academy. It was a really hard match. The team went into halftime break with a comfortable 0:2 lead. The Eagles beat their hosts with a close 4-2 win.
The momentum continued in the Semifinals, where Oakwood beat Neuse Christian Academy with a strong 4-1 victory, earning a spot in the States Championship Final, something that Oakwood hadn’t achieved in years.
On October 26, the Eagles faced Statesville Christian High School in the Final. Oakwood started strong but couldn’t use their chances. Statesxille managed and scored right before and right after the halftime. Our eagles went stronger near the end but 1 goal of Eduardo M. R. wasn’t enough
Stats
Goals:
1. Eduardo M. Ramirez: 39 goals
2. Eeshan Mudireddy:11 goals
3. Nate Quesnel:7 Goals
Assists:
1. Eduardo M. Ramirez:9 Assists
2. Eeshan Mudireddy:8 Assists
3. Josiah Rose:5 Assists
Steals:
1. Louis Niemann:129 Steals
2. Edward Bates:92 Steals
3. Alex Mothersole:89 Steals
Saves:
1. Josiah Rose:145 Saves
2. Winston Bates:29 Saves
Junior Varsity
Oakwood School’s JV soccer team had a strong 2024 season, finishing with a 6-3 record and outscoring opponents 33-15. The team opened with high-scoring wins, including a 7-0 shutout in the opener and a 6-1 victory in conference over Rocky Mount Academy – before a setback in a 4-1 loss to Faith Christian; they later avenged that defeat with a 2-1 win in the rematch. Standout forwards Mason Smith and Arrington Adler led the offense with 10 and 6 goals this season, while the defense recorded multiple shutouts and conceded only 15 goals all season. In Goal, Cy Young got 29, and Aston Dail 11 saves.
