Soft rain did not keep Thursday night’s home crowd from swelling as the game wore on.
Word was rapidly spreading around campus that Christ School varsity soccer might be about to exorcise some conference demons that have been haunting the program for seven years now.
An immaculate goal in the 42nd minute off the left foot of Constantine Barlas ’26 gave the Greenies their just due – a 1-0 victory over three-time defending state champion Rabun Gap (Ga.).
Christ School’s first win in the series since 2017 means a new contender for the Carolinas Athletic Association championship, and possibly more, has entered the chat.
“I told the boys beforehand, we’re just tired of losing. I’m tired of losing to them, and I think the boys were, too,” Coach Guy Campbell ’00 said.
“With a player like Truett (Compton ’25), this is his fifth year of playing varsity. He and I have conversations after games where it’s always about life lessons. And tonight was like, you know what, forget that. Let’s just go win. Competing has been a big thing with this group, and I thought we had guys like Wyatt Haddock (‘27), Wells Edwards (’25) and Truett who set the tone early on, letting them know it was going to be a long night. Because when a team like (Rabun Gap) figures it out a little bit, they’re pretty good.”
Prior to Thursday, Christ School (7-1-0, 2-0) had lost 16 straight games to Rabun Gap and been outscored 68-9 during the streak. Someone would have had to go all the way back to a 1-0 game played on Sept. 25, 2017 in Georgia to find the last time the Eagles did not have the better side.
Thursday was different from the first whistle. The Greenies were more agile and physical in a scoreless first half. Clayton Butler ‘26 set up the goal on a free kick that found the head of Wells, who sent it over to Constantine, who was streaking down the middle of the box with 38:27 to go.
It is just the second goal of the season for the junior from Asheville, but one that Coach Campbell said, “was meant for him.”
Christ School was able to fend off Rabun Gap (9-3-1, 2-1) from there, even though true to form, the Eagles had the better of the play. Felix Huebner ’26 was up to the task for the Greenies, tracking down shots from Rabun Gap and drawing oohs and aahs from Christ School students for punts that sailed nearly the length of the field.
Thursday was the sixth consecutive shutout for the Greenies, who travel to Covenant Day on Saturday. The game times are noon for the JV and 1:30 p.m. for the varsity.