South Lenoir Dominates Princeton, Highlighting Turner’s Ongoing Program Rebuild
Photo taken by Kinnaly Photography
DEEP RUN — South Lenoir's soccer team continued its impressive start to the season with a commanding 8-2 victory over Princeton on Tuesday night. The win pushes the Blue Devils to a 2-1-1 record, marking a strong beginning as they gear up to host Ayden-Grifton (1-1) at home tonight.
The match against Princeton showcased South Lenoir's depth, with six different players finding the back of the net. Senior Ulises Carrizales and sophomore Yeshua Gonzalez led the charge, each scoring twice. Sophomore Emilio Salinas, senior Jonathan Calixtro, senior Euriel Hernandez, and freshman Ariel Resendiz each added a goal. The team’s offensive efforts were well-rounded, with Salinas, Gonzalez, Hernandez, and senior Leonardo Espinoza contributing assists.
Despite falling behind 2-0 early in the game, South Lenoir responded with an onslaught of eight unanswered goals, demonstrating resilience and determination—qualities that have come to define head coach Jody Turner’s tenure.
Turner, now in his fifth year at the helm, has overseen a remarkable transformation of the program. His first season ended without a single win (0-11), but each subsequent year has seen steady improvement. The 2021-22 season saw a 4-14-1 record, followed by a 6-10-4 finish in 2022-23. Last season, the Blue Devils reached new heights with a 10-11-1 record, including a historic playoff berth—their first in over a decade and only the third in school history. The 10-win season set a new school record, one that this year’s team, led by 10 upperclassmen and a core of returning players, seems poised to surpass.
“I am very pleased with where we are right now,” Turner said. “We are banged up, and Monday night we went to Richlands, and it was 7-0 at halftime, but they fought in the second half. We played even with them in the second half, and they showed that grit of never quitting, something I haven’t seen from one of our teams in a long time.”
Looking ahead to tonight’s game, Turner emphasized the importance of staying grounded. “We turn around and play tomorrow night. So let's stay humble,” he said.
Turner’s belief in his players and their commitment to the program is unwavering. “We believe in our system, our program, and our shape. I believe in the boys, and they believe in each other. I think what happened tonight is they started believing in themselves like Coach Pierce and I always believed in them. It’s just a special group—a lot of seniors, great leadership. First home game, I think there were some little nerves in the beginning.”
Among those seniors who have stood out are Dennis Gonzalez, Leonardo Espinoza, and Jonathan Calixtro. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the program’s success.
When asked about the role of his senior players in building the program, Turner was candid. “We sacrificed winning in the beginning to do it the right way. I had some kids who wanted to play with disciplinary problems that were really good, but we’ve set a certain level of expectation. If they drop below that level, they either don’t play or they’re off the team. We’ve raised the bar in our expectations. Losers make excuses; winners make it happen.”
As South Lenoir continues its season, the Blue Devils are not just aiming for another playoff berth but are also on the cusp of making school history with back-to-back postseason appearances. Turner’s dedication to building a winning culture, coupled with the leadership of his senior players, has positioned the team to achieve even greater success this year.
