The Union Lady Spartans continued an impressive week on the pitch, securing three wins in three days, including a commanding 6-0 victory over the Lakewood Lady Leopards in conference play.
Union followed the Lakewood win with a 2-1 victory over North Duplin on Wednesday and another dominant performance Thursday, defeating conference opponent East Columbus 8-1. The three-game stretch pushed the Lady Spartans to 7-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 mark in Carolina 1A/2A Conference play, placing them atop the standings at week’s end.
Against Lakewood, Union broke through midway through the first half, capitalizing on a loose ball in front of the goal. At the 28:12 mark, the Spartans found the back of the net after a deflection was not secured by Lakewood goalkeeper Sabrina Chavez, giving Union a 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans continued to apply pressure shortly after, earning a corner opportunity two minutes later, but Lakewood’s defense held firm as the Leopards cleared the ball and avoided further damage.
Lakewood showed flashes of offensive opportunity with 19 minutes remaining in the half, but Union’s defense remained organized and disruptive, stalling the attack before it could develop into a serious threat.
Chavez delivered one of the key moments of the first half with a strong save at the 16:30 mark, keeping the deficit at one. Union followed with another attempt on goal, but the shot sailed high. Lakewood later generated a rare look on goal from Merari Acosta, though it was handled comfortably by Union’s goalkeeper.
Despite Union controlling possession for much of the half, the Leopards kept things within reach, trailing just 1-0 at the break.
That changed quickly after halftime.
Union wasted no time creating separation, scoring twice within the first two minutes of the second half to extend its lead to 3-0. The early surge shifted momentum firmly in favor of the Spartans, who continued to press the attack.
At the 26:20 mark, Union’s right winger added another goal to make it 4-0. Five minutes later, the Spartans struck again, pushing the advantage to 5-0 as Lakewood struggled to contain the sustained offensive pressure.
Union capped off the performance with one final goal in the closing seconds, scoring with just 1.3 seconds remaining to secure the 6-0 shutout.
After the match, Union head coach Daniel Risworth credited his team’s mindset and defensive foundation as key factors in the win.
“We always talk about when we come away, we’re in someone else’s house — handle our business, be respectful, and get out there and work,” Risworth said.
“I like to focus on my defense first and build up from there. I think that was on show today just for the 6-0. It was 1-0 at the end of the first half, but soccer’s a game of attrition. The scoreline in the end is what matters.”
Risworth also pointed to his team’s ability to adjust, particularly when facing defensive schemes.
“They’re smart,” he added. “They saw what they needed to do and they adjusted. I think they saw it before I had to point it out.”
On the other side, Lakewood head coach Marco Perez Sr. saw positives early but emphasized the need for consistency and urgency moving forward.
“We started off very well… defense was scrappy, but something switched in that second half,” Perez said. “We’ve just been babying them too much. After today, it’s going to be a different team.”
Perez believes the potential is there, but questioned whether his group fully recognizes it.
“I don’t think they understand the potential they have,” he said. “With what we’ve got, we shouldn’t be where we are.”
With additional time before their next matchup, Perez stressed the importance of returning to the basics — particularly effort.
“We’ve got to wake up next week,” he said. “We’ve got to put in the work… but the main thing we need is that hustle and that heart. That’s what’s beating us right now.”
Union’s strong second-half surge ultimately proved decisive, as the Lady Spartans turned a competitive first half into a convincing road victory.
Lakewood now sits at 2-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play as the Leopards look to regroup heading into the next stretch of games.