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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Man, can’t Corbin Kopetzky’s Davie varsity soccer team catch any breaks?

In Kopetzky’s first year as head coach in 2022, his War Eagles went 1-4 in games decided by one goal. Last year they went 0-4 in such games. This year they’re 1-3 in one-goal games. That’s a 2-11 record across three years in games that could go either way.

With a little bit more luck, Davie’s 2024 record would be much better than 3-4-1 overall and 0-4-1 in the Central Piedmont Conference.

“We stepped up to the challenge,” Kopetzky said after narrow losses to Mt. Tabor and West Forsyth. “We are young and we are the underdogs. It’s tough being in some of these, being right there and knowing we are almost to the push and we are about to break the dam. We just need a little more pressure.”

Tabor 4, Davie 3 (OT)

Lanna Robinson came out smoking and the visiting War Eagles led most of the way on March 25. But Mt. Tabor rallied as Davie suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime.

Robinson, a sophomore, struck twice as Davie took a 2-0 lead to intermission. She has a team-high six goals.

“Lanna played outstanding,” Kopetzky said. “She attacked their back line. She pressed and did what I needed her to.”

Tabor came back to tie it at 2, but Lydia Postell put Davie back in front 3-2. Then Tabor knotted the score at 3 with 10 minutes left in regulation. It was still 3-3 after the first 10-minute period of overtime.

The chance at a special win slipped by when Tabor scored what proved to be the game-winner six minutes into the second OT, or the 94th minute.

The Spartans are 45-3-2 all-time against Davie. After falling behind 2-0, they flipped a switch.

“They are a well-coached team,” Kopetzky said. “They are strong every year just like all the Forsyth County teams.”

Notes: Tabor improved to 7-3 and 3-2 in the CPC. … Amazingly, this was the sixth straight Davie-Tabor game decided by one goal. In 2022, Tabor won 2-1 and Davie won 1-0. In 2023, Tabor swept Davie by scores of 1-0, 1-0 and 2-1. … The Tabor game was Davie’s fifth straight this season that was decided by one goal or finished in a tie.

WF 3, Davie 1

Again, the War Eagles showed grit in a game that was scoreless for 57 minutes. But they came up short again in a home loss to West Forsyth on March 27.

Most of the game was a delight, especially considering the Titans have been a juggernaut in the CPC for years.

“We competed,” Kopetzky said. “We made them earn it. They have lost one conference game in four or five years.”

Even though they are 1-62-2 in the all-time series, the War Eagles kept West off the board for more than a half. The dam, though, burst at 58 minutes. West scorched off three goals in a span of five minutes to carve out a 3-0 lead.

“They’re No. 1 in the conference for a reason,” Kopetzky said. “We created opportunities. We’ve been so much better about that this year. But we did not get it in the back of the net.”

Davie did finish one shot, and it was a beauty. With 15 seconds remaining, Jaden Sink killed one from 35 yards out.

“Jaden hit it in the lower 90,” Kopetzky said. “She is a phenomenal player. She helps run stuff back there, and Skylar Link is right beside her.”

Kopetzky said Link, Kim Torres and Postell were a big part of Davie’s staying power against West.

“Skylar played really well (on defense),” he said. “She was stopping a lot of their through balls and keeping us in the game. We know what we’re getting from Kim every night, too (on defense). She’s a Baller. Lydia was all over the place like she always is.”

The coach also threw praise to Caroline Mitchell, Caylee Willard and Monica Ramirez.

“Caroline has been playing outstanding at midfield,” he said. “She does not back down. If they hit her, she is hitting them back. She has a workhorse mindset. Caylee has been getting open on the wings and creating opportunities. Monica had to replace (graduated) Riley Almond, which is not small shoes to fill (at right back). She has stepped up to the plate and done everything I needed. She has been playing big-time ball.”

Notes: Davie has played so hard that 3-1 was its worst loss of the year. … West improved to 6-2-1 and 5-0 in the CPC. … Last year the Titans pounded Davie 5-0 and 6-1.