Bryan’s Double OT Winner Lifts Knights Past Whiteville 3-2

Jonah Bryan (white jersey, left), and Alejandro Lopez (white jersey, right). Both are captains for the Knights.

WHITEVILLE, NC — West Bladen boys soccer pulled off a thrilling comeback Wednesday night, rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat Whiteville 3-2 in double overtime.

Senior captain Jonah Bryan delivered the decisive moment, slotting home the winner five minutes into the second extra period off a clever assist from Gerson Verdugo.

The win pushed the Knights to 3-5-1 overall and, more importantly, gave them a 1-0 start in 3A/4A/5A Southeastern Conference play.

It was a game that showcased both grit and growth for a team that has been finding itself in one-score battles all season.

Things looked shaky early on.

Two miscues in the back and midfield allowed Whiteville to strike twice in the first half.

“Both of the goals we allowed were lapses,” head coach Brett Jackson admitted. “The first was a bad defensive play and the second was a badly played free kick from around midfield.”

Despite the scoreline, Jackson saw promise in the way his team began the match.

“We played really well to open the game. We were passing the ball well and controlling possession better than we have all year,” he said. But when Whiteville grabbed momentum, the Knights couldn’t stop the slide before halftime”

Halftime, though, became a turning point. After a team discussion, West Bladen regrouped and immediately took control of possession.

They poured on pressure until, about 20 minutes into the second half, Jason Velasquez found the net off a setup from Bryan.

The Knights weren’t done.

With 10 minutes left, Bryan rose above the defense to head home an equalizer from a Velasquez cross, sending the match into overtime tied at 2-2.

The first extra period ended without a breakthrough, but West Bladen’s persistence paid off in the second.

Verdugo slipped Bryan into space, and the forward made no mistake with the finish.

“We played really well tonight all things considered,” Jackson said. “We are battling injuries and had multiple players out sick. One of the biggest things we did tonight that we haven’t done all season is control possession. We passed the ball very well and also had quite a few shots on goal.”

For Jackson, the victory was about much more than just a number in the win column.

“It was definitely a morale boost for the guys to come out with a win tonight,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the way they played and how they fought to the very end.”

The Knights now shift their focus to Monday’s road trip to St. Paul’s, their final non-conference game before diving deeper into conference play.

The Bulldogs, currently ranked No. 20 in the NCHSAA 5A RPI standings, are coming off impressive wins, including a 3-1 victory over North Brunswick.

West Bladen hopes to be healthier by then, and if Thursday night’s resilience is any indication, they’ll be ready for another fight.

---

Bryan’s Double OT Winner Lifts Knights Past Whiteville 3-2