Gryphons hand Fike boys soccer team a 3-1 defeat

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The scoring opportunities for the Gryphons came fast and furious in the first 20 minutes. 

Mark Gray sent a long ball into the Fike defense which Justin Marsigli was able to control and beat the defense for an early goal just six minutes into the game. The Gryphon attack was precise with great ball movement, but the finishing touch was lacking as shots flew by and over the goal, even striking the cross bar at least once.

Play evened out in the latter stages of the first half and neither team was able to find the net for the remainder of the period. Despite the rain, the field conditions held up well and both teams found solid footing throughout.

Rocky Mount resumed its offensive attack at the opening whistle of the second half. Again, it appeared that the Gryphon offense was on track but the shots were not, with another three or four good opportunities missed in the early going. 

At the 51:11 mark, Marsigli was again on the receiving end of a nice long ball sent into the box by Gray, which he was able to control and hammer home from in front of the Demon goal for the second Gryphon score.

With the possibility of a defensive mistake in the difficult conditions likely, the Gryphon sideline breathed much easier with the additional cushion. 

Fike (8-11-1 overall, 3-4 Big East) began to press more aggressively and Gryphon keeper Drew Gorham was challenged several times in the final 20 minutes. 

Fike moved its defensive stalwart Cullen Carter forward in the late stages in an attempt to create better scoring opportunities. The Gryphons quickly capitalized on the space created in the Demon defense, and Andrew Morales found the back of the net with eight minutes remaining to give Rocky Mount a 3-0 lead. 

With just over three minutes remaining, Fike forward Jovan Gracia was able to capitalize on a breakdown by the Gryphons defensively. He picked up a loose ball in front of the goal and punched it home for the only Fike score of the night.

The story of the game, other than the weather, was the ability of the Rocky Mount mid-field to control possession and dictate the pace of play for the majority of the match.  Outside middies, Matt Williams and Lee McAvoy, were able to press forward with ball possession, forcing Fike to play very defensively. 

For the game, Rocky Mount took 26 shots, with Fike keeper Rob Brown managing seven saves.

So the objective on Saturday against Hunt will be for the Gryphons to get more of those shot attempts on frame. Fike took but 12 shots, with Gorham posting seven Gryphon saves.

Rocky Mount improved its record to 15-1-2 (6-1 Big East). In a highly anticipated rematch and the league regular season title on the line, the Gryphons will host Wilson Hunt Saturday at the Nash St. Field at 2 p.m.