East Bladen Rolls Past West Columbus, Extends Strong Run

CERRO GORDO, NC — East Bladen boys soccer wasted no time setting the tone Thursday night, overwhelming West Columbus with an early offensive surge and cruising to a 6-0 victory.

The win pushes the Eagles to 5-3-3 on the season and 2-0-1 in conference play, continuing a hot stretch where they’ve taken five of their last seven matches and drawn another.

The goals came fast in the opening half. Just two minutes in, Ishaq Algozy found the back of the net to put East Bladen on the board.

A minute later, Jayce Hatcher doubled the lead on a long throw-in from Debo Lewis. By the 25th minute, Hatcher and Lewis connected again in identical fashion, stretching the margin to 3-0.

As the Eagles pressed forward, Ishaq set up Tyler Eason for a fourth goal in the 34th minute.

Moments later, Ishaq weaved through five defenders before slotting a finish from close range. He capped off his first-half performance by burying a penalty kick just before halftime, giving East Bladen a commanding 6-0 advantage.

The second half told a different story.

While the Eagles generated 12 shots on target, none found the net.

That didn’t frustrate Head Coach Jay Raynor, who saw the half as a chance to build depth and reward hard work from across the roster.

“Great team effort. Everyone played, including our younger Team 2 guys,” Raynor said. “With our current injuries we’ve had to go deep on the bench, but those young guys continue to get better. They’re starting to look more comfortable and understand what we need from them.”

Raynor noted that both goalkeepers showed poise and leadership in limited action, and the defensive core stayed on the field to anchor the match.

“Our backs and holding mids stood in for us in the second half, which allowed us to get those younger guys valuable varsity minutes,” he said. “They all competed well, and we had several shots that were either turned away or just missed.”

For Raynor, the night capped off a week that showcased his team’s growth.

“It was a good week. Proud of our guys and their discipline,” he said. “They’re doing all that we are asking of them and more.”

The Eagles now turn their attention to another tough conference test on Monday when they host Union.

The Spartans are currently ranked No. 19 in the NCHSAA 2A RPI standings, while East Bladen sits at No. 23.

The matchup should serve as an important measuring stick as the Eagles continue to push toward the heart of their season.

---

East Bladen Rolls Past West Columbus, Extends Strong Run