Sea Devils Edge Wake Tech 2-1 in Season Opener at Home
Wilmington, NC - Cape Fear Community College opened its regular season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Wake Technical Community College in a Region X matchup on Wednesday.
The Sea Devils fell behind early in the 24th minute when Wake Tech's Kaylee Faile scored off an assist from Averi Richmond, putting the visitors up 1-0. Cape Fear responded in the 39th minute, as Sophomore Captain Kayla Donley converted a precise corner kick from Laina Elliott to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams battled fiercely in the second half, with Cape Fear controlling much of the action. The game-winning goal came in the 84th minute, when Captain Kenliana Dixon headed home a perfectly placed corner from Freshman Ava Searcy, giving the Sea Devils the 2-1 lead they would hold until the final whistle.
The Sea Devils outshot Wake Tech 16–7, with Kayla Donley and Kenliana Dixon each registering a goal and contributing significantly to the team's attacking presence. Goalkeeper Jaime Maguire made 7 saves to secure the clean defensive performance that complemented Cape Fear's offensive efficiency.
Head Coach C.W. Ponton praised the effort of his young squad:
"I'm very proud of the team for giving their all until the very end. This is the youngest team I've ever had, but we're making great strides. We looked solid on offensive set pieces and defensive play. We certainly have things to work on, but I'm very proud of the team for their positive attitude and encouragement."
With the win, Cape Fear starts the season 1-0-0, showing strong leadership from its captains and promising contributions from its freshmen.
