A year ago, Clinton High stood atop the 2A soccer world, hoisting the state championship trophy after a thrilling win over Southwestern Randolph. On Wednesday night, the rematch carried a different story. The Cougars, still burning from last fall’s heartbreak, stormed into Dark Horse territory and left little doubt, earning a decisive 5-1 victory.
The showdown between two of the classification’s top programs had all the makings of another classic. Instead, it became a showcase of Southwestern Randolph’s hunger and precision. With goals from Fernando Hernandez-Dominguez (2), Aaron Avina (2), and Chris Betancourt, the Cougars flexed their offensive firepower while tightening the screws defensively.
“They’re the best team in the state right now — they’re better than us right now,” Clinton head coach Brad Spell admitted afterward. “They’re hungry. We won it last year; they didn’t, and you can tell they’re a lot hungrier than we are right now. Hopefully this is a wake-up call for us.”
The Cougars set the tone early, striking first at the 4:42 mark to seize momentum. Clinton responded with resilience, leveling the score at 7:51 when senior Chris Zelaya buried a shot off an assist from Holden Spell, sending the home crowd into a roar.
But Southwestern Randolph wasted no time in regaining control. A blocked shot turned into a second-chance rebound at 8:25, making it 2-1. The visitors would never trail again.
The Dark Horses nearly found their equalizer midway through the first half when a penalty kick gave Spell a clean chance to put Clinton back on level terms. But his attempt sailed just wide left, the Cougar keeper having guessed the other direction.
“That penalty could’ve changed the whole game,” Spell said. “But that’s sports. Sometimes the ball bounces your way, sometimes it doesn’t. Tonight, they were just better.”
The Cougars’ defensive discipline frustrated Clinton throughout the night, cutting off lanes and clearing out danger whenever the Dark Horses pushed forward. The Clinton back line held firm for stretches, with the Horses’ keeper making key saves to keep things tight before halftime.
But as the second half wore on, fatigue and frustration set in. A collision between Clinton keeper Luis Bartolome and a Cougar striker forced a temporary substitution, and Southwestern Randolph pounced, stretching their lead to 3-1 in the 57th minute.
From there, the Cougars controlled the tempo. Avina added another strike at 71:07 — the nail in the coffin — and Southwestern capped their statement win with a final tally inside the closing minute, pushing the score to 5-1.
“We knew we were going to be in for a battle, and getting that first goal was huge,” Cougars coach Jimmy Walker said. “I thought our back line played really well. That’s where it starts for us, and then we can transition from there and put people on their heels. The score doesn’t show how close the first half was, but we were just a little sharper in the final third.”
The lopsided scoreline marked Clinton’s first loss in more than a month, snapping a five-game win streak and dropping the Horses to 10-2 on the season. For Spell, it’s a chance to test how his squad responds to adversity.
“Sometimes it’s good to get your butt kicked, as much as I hate it,” Spell said. “It reminds you that anybody can beat you. They put five on us tonight — could’ve been seven or eight. It’s been a long time since that’s happened. But the key is how we respond. Do we dwell on it, or do we get back to work?”
Despite the defeat, Spell praised his players’ attitude.
“I look at body language when I’m talking to them. It’s easy to listen when you’re winning, but are you still looking me in the eye when we’re losing? They were. That tells me we’ll bounce back.”
Southwestern Randolph (12-1) extended its winning streak to six games, all while allowing just one goal in that span. The Cougars return home Monday to host Uwharrie Charter Academy.
Clinton (10-2) will regroup before welcoming Pender on Monday. For the Horses, the rematch served as both a reminder of what it takes to stay on top — and fuel for the long season still ahead.
“Next play,” Spell said simply. “That’s all you can do.”