The Hargrave Varsity Soccer Team lost a heartbreaker to Franklin County High School, on Wednesday, after giving up a two goal lead late in the game to be defeated 2-3.
The Tigers played a hard-fought game with an aggressive and intense approach throughout the match, but could not withstand the late furry from FCHS. The Tigers began the first half battling for possession of the ball, and continuously putting pressure on their opponent. The flow of play would shift back and forth, but the Tigers would be the first to strike 23 minutes into the half. Cody Cameron (1A) worked his way down the left side and sent a superbly driven ball into the opponent’s box. The ball first found the head of James Yu (1A), who was also credited with the assist, who redirected the ball towards the near post. Before the FCHS goalkeeper, though, could make the save midfielder Garret Torney (1G) streaked in, attacked the loose ball and headed it home for the goal.
The Tigers would then strike again less than six minutes later with a goal from midfielder Austin Newman (1G). Newman gathered the ball in the midfield, and found himself with space. Newman dribbled forward, took on an FCHS defender, and had the shot from about 25 yards out. The shot sailed over the opponent’s keeper’s head and into the back of the net, giving the Tigers the 2-0 lead.
The Tigers would take the lead into the second half, and maintain it until last 15 minutes of the game. Despite continuing to play hard and being aggressive towards the ball, the Tigers could not stop the FCHS comeback. However, the Tigers never stopped working and fought for every inch till the very last whistle.
This ends the Tigers regular season, finishing at 5-8-1 overall, and 3-3 in conference play, good enough to take second in the VIC.
The Tigers will return to action on Thursday, May 12 to begin the first round of the VIC playoffs, and take on Fishburne Military Academy with a chance to go to the championship game. Gametime is 4:30 at Hargrave.
