Staff report
MISENHEIMER — Salisbury’s boys soccer program opened a new era on Monday, battling to a 1-1 draw on the road against Gray Stone.
It was the first head-coaching outing for Landon Goodman, an economics and personal finance teacher at Salisbury. Goodman was a standout for the Hornets during his playing days.
Salisbury was 17-1-5 last season, won the South Piedmont Conference and reached the third round of the 4A state playoffs. This is a new Salisbury team, as the Hornets lost All-State players Abdul Eliwa and Finnegan Avery and long-throw specialist Sam Goodman to graduation. The Hornets also lost All-Region defender Mohammed Jabateh, who transferred to Oak Grove.
Gray Stone was 16-4-4 in 2025 and was 2A state runner-up.
“With all the changes made going into the season, lots of players needed to step up for our first game, and they did,” Goodman said.
Salisbury had the majority of the scoring chances, but settled for a scoreless first half.
Gray Stone took a 1-0 lead on a counter-attack, scoring on a cross by William Hernandez and a finish by Matthew Burleson in the 55th minute.
It was a hot day. After a hydration break in the 60th minute, the Hornets made a tactical change, got back in rhythm and found more opportunities.
When Junior forward Raymond Moscoso was yellow carded with about 15 minutes left, the opportunity arrived for freshman forward Demian Perez to sub into the game and make his high school season debut.
About eight minutes elapsed before Perez received a pass from Fletcher Busby and managed to get the ball onto his weaker foot from about 20 yards out and scored on a looping shot that beat the goalkeeper into the far corner of the goal with seven minutes remaining.
That goal gave Salisbury a draw. Overtimes aren’t played in non-conference matches.
Goodman said Salisbury got good play from goalkeeper Jadyn Newkirk and defenders Johnathan Barrera, Henry Austin and AJ Jarrell, as well as Lucas Webb, Kevin Reyes, Alejandro Mercado and Moscoso.
Salisbury will host Randleman at Ludwig Stadium on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
