Local teams advance in soccer playoffs
The Sydney Academy Wildcats boys advanced to the Highland Region Division 1 high school soccer championship series with a 4-1 victory over the Glace Bay Panthers on Tuesday.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the half in frigid and windy conditions at Open Hearth Park. Isaac Rhyhold opened the scoring in the 28th minute for Sydney Academy, but Dylan MacMullin replied with a penalty-kick tally two minutes later.
The Wildcats took advantage with the wind at their backs in the second half. Justin Ferguson scored the winner in the 61st minute. Evrim Gol netted goals in the 75th and 82nd for insurance, as the Wildcats took all six points to win the first-to-four series.
Sydney Academy will play the Riverview Reds in the championship series starting Thursday at 4 p.m. at Open Hearth Park turf. The Reds were granted a 3-0 win on Tuesday to win their semifinal series with Memorial after the Marauders defaulted their scheduled game.
In Glace Bay, Sydney Academy and the host Panthers girls battled to a 2-2 draw. With the result, the Wildcats were the first to four points and won the semifinal.
Amy Lynch and Abigail Binns bent the twine for Sydney Academy, while Madison MacDonald and Robyn MacIntyre replied for the Panthers.
In the other girls semifinal in Sydney Mines, the Riverview Reds won their series with the Memorial Marauders thanks to a 6-2 win.
Taylor Coleman fired a hat trick in the victory. Emma Ferguson, Alice Reynolds White and Julie Currie added singles. Jessie Beddow scored a pair of goals for Memorial.
Riverview hosts Sydney Academy for Game 1 of the Highland Region Division 1 girls final on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Today, the Breton Education Centre Bears girls and boys teams will host the Richmond Academy Hurricanes for the Highland Region Division 2 title. The girls play at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field in New Waterford.