Demons’ Moran eager for East-West experience

As the end of his senior year at Fike High approached, Kevin Moran wasn’t sure where, or if, he could be playing soccer in college, but he did know he had one last high school match to play.

Moran, who became the 12th Golden Demon to be named to the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association all-state team last fall, will be one of 16 boys soccer players for the East in next Tuesday’s East-West All-Star Game in Greensboro. The North Carolina Coaches Association’s annual midsummer classsic since 1992 will be played at Jamieson Stadium on the Grimsley High campus instead of its recent home at Macpherson Stadium at Bryan Park Soccer Complex, just outside Greensboro.

Moran and fellow Fike graduate Erin Pope, who will play in the girls soccer game, are the only two players from the Times readership area to play in the summer all-star games. The East-West football game was moved from July to December in 2023 and included two area players.

“I’m excited. Can’t lie about that,” Moran said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve just been prepping a little bit here and there, and I’m just so excited to play in the East-West game.”

Moran, who formerly played for Wilson Youth Soccer Association ‘05 Explosion outside of high school soccer, said he’s been playing in weekend leagues in Rocky Mount and Tarboro.

Moran also revealed that he signed with Louisburg College earlier this summer and will suit up for the National Junior College Athletic Association Hurricanes in the fall.

“Yeah, it’s all set. It’s just a matter of just getting my classes straight up and all that,” he said.

He said that he reached out to Louisburg after learning about the program through some friends who play there.

“I was reaching out to me schools to see, like, if they would give me the shot,” he said. “And I just like Louisburg, and I just chose there.”

Moran said he was relieved to have made that decision since his soccer future was uncertain after his senior season ended.

“I’ve got a couple friends going there, so it’s going to be fun,” he said. “I get to, like, relax and relieve all the stress from school and stuff and just train and have fun with my friends.”

Moran earned all-state acclaim after being an indispensible cog for Fike last season while scoring 19 goals and making 15 assists. While he played attacking center midfield for the Demons, Moran’s natural spot is on the defensive back line outside and he expects to play there in Greensboro for East head coach Jason Curtis of Chapel Hill. Moran said he played left back as a freshman at Fike against Curtis’ Tigers.

Moran is also familiar with two of his East teammates, Alex Ramson of White Oak and Walker Spell of Clinton, from playing against them in club soccer as well as the BodyArmour State Games of North Carolina last summer.

Moran is hyped for the all-star experience as well.

“Just to see all the amazing players and how far they came and just to experience going against some kind of relatable players like me,” he said.

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