‘It was glory’: Late-game heroics push Ashley soccer past Hoggard for first time since 2021

For the first time in almost two years, the Ashley High School boys soccer team has surmounted the mountain and defeated Hoggard.

Ashley pulled away late in a game that initially looked destined for a 0-0 draw and held on to defeat the Vikings 2-1 Thursday night. The win marks the first time since Oct. 14, 2021, that the Screaming Eagles have defeated their cross-town rival.

"We knew deep down that we really wanted to pull this type of victory out to solidify the belief we have," Ashley coach Nick Gigliotti said after the game. "The players see it and feel it, and we really feel like we're getting over some humps that we set at the beginning of the year."

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Ashley opened up scoring in the 65th minute as junior forward Nick Cenatiempo rifled a shot from a set piece more than 20 yards out to give the Screaming Eagles the 1-0 advantage.

"To be honest, after I hit it, I didn't even look, I just saw it hit the post and it was glory," Cenatiempo said of the goal. "To come here and beat Hoggard, that's just glory right there, a dream, especially to score a banger like that."

Hoggard wasn't finished, though, responding with an equally mesmerizing goal from junior Dylan Lewis, who also blasted a missile from long-range into the back of the net.

Just two minutes later, in the 75th minute, Ashley would find the back of the net again as freshman Luke Tierney converted from short distance.

"These boys are such good friends that there's nothing but respect for each other and just a desire to beat each other."

Ashley (11-3-2, 5-2-1 MEC) moves closer to the front of the pack in the Mideastern Conference but will still trail Hoggard (12-1-1, 7-1 MEC), who, despite the loss, will remain in first place thanks to its stellar conference play so far.

While Ashley might not have jumped to the front of the MEC with Thursday's win, the victory marks success for the Screaming Eagles program in more ways than one.

"It's a great feeling anytime you can beat a team that is so well coached and so disciplined … to do it on the road in the MEC, it's almost impossible," Gigliotti said.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Ashley boys soccer upsets Hoggard for first time since 2021