When it comes to determining placement in region play, soccer tie-breakers are as ever bit messy as they seem. Laurel (4-7-2, 2-2) leaped over South Jones (6-12, 2-2) into second place by way of tie-breaker Tuesday night in Region 5-5A boys soccer with a 3-1 win over the Braves at R. H. Watkins Stadium.
South Jones beat Laurel the first time around back on Dec. 11, 2018, by a one-goal advantage, 2-1. The two-goal win by Laurel Tuesday night in round two of region play puts the Tornadoes over the top – as of now.
“South Jones is a good team,” said Laurel boys soccer coach Julio Martinez. “Both teams played well tonight. The main thing is that there were no bad fouls and no clear intentional fouls. It was just an excellent game for both South Jones and us.
Laurel starred down the probable fate of a third consecutive year missing the playoffs had they lost a second game to South Jones. Coach Martinez said the win was much needed to keep hopes alive.
“Our guys knew this was it,” said Martinez. “We would have been out of the playoffs for a third straight year if we lost tonight. [But we didn’t], and I’m proud of my team for their job tonight.”
“I’m just glad I’m talking to you now because that means we won,” Martinez added with a laugh.
Goals Scored
Though opportunities on Laurel’s end were few in the first half, Briceton Page made his touches count. Page scored back-to-back goals for Laurel in the first 20 minutes of the match.
“We talked about this all week,” said Martinez. “What’s the point of creating opportunities if you miss them. I’d rather have a few opportunities and score, than a lot of chances and not score.
“I’m glad for Page, he missed several opportunities in the first round of games, but tonight he scored the first two goals. It would have been easy for him to give up after missing opportunities in other games, but he didn’t. I’m so proud of him.”
Laurel led South Jones 2-0 at the half.
Brian Cordoba increased Laurel’s lead to three goals on a penalty kick opportunity in the eighth minute of the second half.
The only goal for South Jones came in the final minutes of Tuesday night’s match. Senior Tyler Ducksworth converted on a PK in the 78th minute.
Moving forward
Laurel has two games remaining in the Region 5-5A. They play Wayne County on Thursday night and West Jones on the following Tuesday.
“We have to win both games to have a clear route to the playoffs,” said Martinez. “I don’t want to be talking who wins this tie-breaker or that tie-breaker. It’s so messy. I want to make sure it’s a clear picture for us.”
Girls game
South Jones scored five-second half goals Tuesday night to beat Laurel, 6-1. The game was 1-1 tied at the half.
South Jones improves to 11-5-2 overall and 3-1 in Region 5-5A. Laurels fall to 1-13-1 and 0-3 in region play.
