The North Tattnall Middle School (NTMS) boys’ soccer team battled the Toombs County Middle School (TCMS) boys at home on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
NTMS struck first as Gio Ornelas crossed the ball to Carlos Aparicio. The score was now, NTMS 1, TCMS 0. TCMS quickly recovered with a goal of their own, tying the game.
This tie would not last long, as TCMS would make it past the NTMS defenders for a goal. The whistle would signal the end of the first half with NTMS down by 1.
After making some substitutions, both NTMS and TCMS took the field determined to be victorious. TCMS had the ball first but quickly lost it to NTMS. NTMS midfielders Marcos Mendoza and Ornelas, zoomed past TCMS defenders.
Mendoza then scored from the corner when the ball was tipped into the goal by one of TCMS's players. NTMS would then gain another goal as Giovanni Harris attacked the TCMS defenders relentlessly, bringing the score to NTMS 3, TCMS 2.
With the lead, NTMS's defenders Victor Munoz, Marcos Gomez, Alex Fermin, and Luis Robles, kept TCMS midfielders at bay. Munoz was able to stop TCMS from attacking with a punt that flew across the field to Ornelas, who quickly passed it to Mendoza. Not giving up without a fight, TCMS’s defenders stopped Mendoza by kicking the ball off the field, giving NTMS a corner kick. From the corner, Mendoza was able to place the ball right in front of Ornelas, who scored. After a nail-biting second half, NTMS came out victors. Final score: NTMS 4, TCMS 2.
The NTMS girls played hard but failed to score against TCMS. NTMS defenders Jennifer Pascual, Constance Floyd, Ansley Durrence, and Joselyn Hernandez fought valiantly in the first half, allowing only one goal. However, in the second half, the TCMS girls would make it past the defenders to score two more goals. Final score: NTMS 0, TCMS 3.
The NTMS girls and boys will travel to Statesboro on Friday, March 11.