Laney soccer uses second-half surge to top New Hanover, 3-1

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Laney varsity boys soccer scored three unanswered goals in the second half of Tuesday night’s game to rally past New Hanover 3-1 in a matchup of New Hanover County rivals. Both teams entered the game 3-1 in conference play, with the Buccaneers looking to defend their home field and take hold of the No. 2 spot in the conference standings.

New Hanover got on the board first. Keinner Martinez scored in the first half to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. That score held for the remainder of the half, sending New Hanover into halftime with the advantage.

The Buccaneers responded in the second half. A Laney corner kick bounced through traffic and found Tristan Mouney, who put it into the back of the net to tie the game at 1.

Laney then took its first lead of the night behind Andres Torres Romero. Surrounded by New Hanover defenders, Romero found an opening and scored to put the Buccaneers ahead 2-1. The Buccaneers added another goal when a ball into the box landed in front of Landon Reese, who scored Laney’s third and final goal of the night.

Goalkeeper Carson Mattox helped preserve the lead the rest of the way as Laney secured the 3-1 victory.

“I mean man it was a great feeling, I mean once we got that goal we knew we were gonna get a couple more,” Mouney said. “We really just took advantage of those set pieces the corners the throws the free kicks we did what we needed to do. The first half we had the opportunities we just didn’t finish but man we really wanted it in that second half and we got it.”

The win improves Laney to 15-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Buccaneers will travel to Topsail on Thursday to take on the Pirates.