By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

SPARTA — Tuesday’s heavy rains may have been Alleghany’s best ally in its home soccer game against Starmount.

The game was called, mercifully, at the half with the Rams leading 6-0. Starmount beat Alleghany 14-1 the first time the teams met in September when the contest went a full 80 minutes.

Juan Lopez scored twice for the Rams in Tuesday’s rematch. Austin Macemore, Mason Winfrey, Jose Luna and Jacob Cleary added the other goals.

Chandler Chappell assisted both of Lopez’s scores. Jose Adame assisted scores by Luna and Cleary. Brett Pinnix assisted Macemore’s goal.

Winfrey, who plays goalie for the Rams along with Juan Morales, scored on a penalty kick after an Alleghany player was red-carded for a hard foul inside the box.

Alleghany only had two shots on goal, both saved by Morales. Winfrey did not face a shot during his time in the net.

Starmount improved to 14-3-1 overall, 12-3 in conference heading into its regular season finale Thursday afternoon against visiting Wilkes Central. The game will start at 4 p.m., prior to the Rams’ junior varsity football game against Alleghany.

WEST WILKES 3, ELKIN 1: The Buckin’ Elks fell behind 2-0 in the first half and couldn’t climb all the way back after halftime.

“We did not execute our plan, which put us behind,” coach Joe McCulloch said. “We executed the plan in the second half, which shut down their go-to guy and allowed us an opportunity to score because we were getting better organized.”

Elkin’s goal came off the foot of Ilhui Lozada. West Wilkes’ final score came with about six minutes left for the final margin. The Buckin’ Elks will play a make-up game at Wilkes Central tonight.

EAST WILKES 0, MOUNT AIRY 0: The teams battled to a scoreless tie on a rainy Tuesday night. The Cardinals close their season Thursday at Ashe County.