Third time isn’t always the charm.
In its third semifinal round appearance in school history, Northeast Jones boys fell 1-0 to Amory Wednesday night in the MHSAA Class 4A North State Soccer Championship game.
“This wasn’t a one-sided game,” said Northeast Jones head coach Matt Reid. “There were opportunities back and forth both ways. Amory made good on one opportunity. I thought we had one of two better shots that them tonight in the first half, but we missed them by inches.”
The lone goal was scored by Amory in the third minute of the match.
“I told our guys after the game that if we played this team 10 times in a season, it would be five and five,” Reid said. “It just didn’t go our way tonight.”
Senior keeper Jonathan Blackledge worked overtime Wednesday night to keep the game within reach. Blackledge finished with seven saves, each seemingly more challenging than the one before.
Amory outshot Northeast Jones 7-3 in shots on goal.
Northeast Jones finishes the season 16-6-3 overall. Its 16-win season is tied with the most ever by the program in school history.
“We can’t remember our season based on one game,” said Reid. “We came so far. Those kids competed their butts off. That locker room is full of competitors. I wish I had played on teams with competitors like Carlos Hernandez. It’s just kids like that who time after time, who might not be the most athletic team on the field and may not be the most talented player on the field, competed and gave everything they had. Nobody can tell them that they didn’t belong here.”
Northeast Jones claimed the Region 5-4A title at the conclusion of the regular season. In the playoffs, the Tigers defeated Pontotoc, 1-0, in the first round, and New Hope, 2-1, to reach its third-ever semifinal appearance in boys soccer.
