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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

After enduring an 0-27-1 dry spell; after getting shut out in three straight games; after scoring just two goals over four games …

After all the above, the Davie varsity soccer team got over the hump and gave first-year coach Jason Clark his first victory, 5-1 over visiting East Rowan on Sept. 9.

It was the second proud moment of Clark’s young tenure. In the season opener, Davie tied Starmount 2-2 to stop its losing streak at 24.

As you know, he has a massive building project on his hands. Going into the East game, the War Eagles had a lot of growing up to do and not much time to do it with Central Piedmont Conference play beginning this week. In the final tune-up, they came through in a big way.

“We had been so close to figuring things out,” Clark said. “I seriously think this game was the breakthrough for a lot of them. They realized the formations, attacking style and everything else. It finally – finally – clicked in their heads. After about five minutes, it was just unbelievable.”

Getting two goals from Anthony Ortiz and one from Brian Reyes, Alex DelCarmen and Felipe Flores, it was an easy victory. Ortiz also had an assist as Davie built a 3-1 halftime lead and went on to post the most goals in 29 games.

“We probably had possession of the ball 80 percent of the game,” Clark said after Davie had 16 shots on goal to East’s three.

Davie (1-3-1) savored its first win since a 5-1 decision at East Rowan on Sept. 17, 2019.

“The learned cohesion within the team is what dominated, realizing when one person gets down to pick them back up,” he said. “That’s really what showed.”

And then: “I’d like to thank all the fans. That’s probably one of the largest crowds we’ve had watch Davie soccer in at least a couple of years. It was a significant number of fans filling that side of the bleachers for us. The improvements we’re making on the field is one thing, but the improvements we’re making with the fans coming out and supporting the team was huge for us.”

Notes: The Mustangs fell to 0-2. … Davie’s JV lost 6-0 at home to North Davidson on Sept. 7, dropping the War Eagles to 0-2. … The JV has a new coach in Nathan Handy, who is a new PE teacher at Davie. “I knew him before he came to Davie,” Clark said. “I’m glad to have him on board.”