ACA, Christ School pitching toward collision

(Editor’s note: This Sept. 16 Asheville Citizen-Times story highlights the stakes in the Oct. 1 showdown between the Asheville Christian Academy and Christ School’s boys soccer teams.)

Asheville Christian Academy and Christ School have proven they can play with the big boys in Buncombe County soccer.

Now it’s just a matter of waiting until the two undefeated Carolinas Athletic Association teams finally meet.

The Lions got a hat trick from Corban Crosley in Sept. 15 afternoon’s 6-0 shutout of visiting Carolina Day.

All three of Crosley’s goals, including a nifty header, came in the first half against his former school (Crosley last played for the Wildcats in 2014). Josh Perryman, Barret Compton and Will Sabo also struck for ACA (8-0-2, 2-0-0) before the 80 minutes were said and done.

Logan Collie posted his fifth clean sheet of the season.

Meanwhile, Christ School (7-0-3, 3-0-0) got past Asheville School, 1-0, on a goal from Riley Smith. The Greenies are ranked third in NCISAA 3-A soccer, one spot lower than the Lions’ position in NCISAA 2-A.

The two do not play until Oct. 1 at Christ School.

“(Greenies coach Guy Campbell) is a friend and we talk a couple times a week,” ACA coach Terry Hughes said. “We tell each other to keep it going. I think this is exciting for our conference.”

Indeed, the most impressive victory for the Lions stands as their 3-2 game at Reynolds on Aug. 25. Two weeks later, they tied Asheville High, 2-2. Christ School earned a 2-2 draw with the Cougars on Monday and beat Enka, 4-3, last month.

“We’re playing really well right now, and we’ve got some good rhythm,” Crosley said of ACA. “A lot of teams we play have teammates of mine in club ball. That makes it more fun.”

As of Sept. 16, Crosley had scored a team-high 14 goals, followed by Coleman Compton (eight) and Perryman (seven). Ezekiel Helmling, Barrett Compton, Coleman Compton, Max Gompers, Samuel Duarte and Will Sabo had assists on Sept. 15. Collie, Crosley, Duarte and Barret Compton are the team's only four seniors.

On Sept. 18, the Lions were to host the state’s top-ranked NCISAA 3-A team, Fayetteville Academy (9-0-0). And then the next day, No. 2 Coastal Christian Academy (7-2-1) was to come to the Swannanoa Valley for a noon matchup.

“These boys want to keep it rolling,” Hughes said.