The North Tattnall Middle School (NTMS) soccer teams traveled to the Pecan Grove to face Claxton Middle School (CMS) on Saturday, March 26.
The girls’ game was first to play. Fans watched in anticipation as North Tattnall’s Camilla Ovalle put the first point on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal. This lead would not last long as Claxton would answer with a goal of their own-tying the score, 1-1.
The tie would quickly be broken by North Tattnall’s Juliana Hernandez, who dribbled the ball down the field and evaded Claxton’s defenders to score. With halftime approaching, the score was now 2-1, but CMS would get the ball down to the field and pass North Tattnall’s defenders to score next.
It was an intense second half as both teams went scoreless. Players would have to play a five-minute overtime, but it would also end in a tie. To determine a winner, each time would have to send five players in to compete in penalty kicks.
As fate would have it, Hernandez and Zoey Flowers from NTMS would each get a penalty kick inside the goal, but so would two of Claxton’s players, which meant another tie. Both teams then went to “Sudden Death,” where North Tattnall’s Lupita Castillo scored. To end the tie, Warrior Goalkeeper Katherine Delgado was able to block Claxton’s attempt to get a penalty kick. NTMS would win, 3-2.
The NTMS boys defeated CMS to end the season undefeated and first-seeded for playoffs. While both teams were eager to get a point on the scoreboard, North Tattnall’s center midfielder, Marcos Gomez, assisted by Michael Mendoza, would score first. CMS would try valiantly to score but would not be able to get the ball passed NTMS’s defenders, Jerry Martinez, Eli Debevec, Victor Munoz, and Giovanni Harris.
NTMS would be awarded another point when Gio Ornelas sailed a perfect corner kick to Carlos Aparicio, who then hit the ball in with his head, thrilling spectators on both sides. CMS fought hard, allowing only two goals. NTMS would take the game, with the final score being 2-0. NTMS will host second round of playoffs on Thursday, March 31 at 4 p.m.
