Sonoraville dominates in 1st round after falling behind early
with that early, 1-0.”
Dawson Holbrook and Alexander Soldevilla scored two goals each — in the win, and Kevin Sonoraville boys’ soccer Villatoro, Omar Jacocoach Hector Holguin bo and Piedrasanta all said his team panicked contributed one goal for a little bit after fallapiece as third-seeding behind by a goal ed Sonoraville scored barely a minute into its at least seven goals in first-round state playoff a game for the seventh matchup against Jacktime this season. The son County. Phoenix also benefitted
That panic didn’t last from a Jackson County long. own goal.
Beginning with a “Our attack has been score from Yorlin Pieinconsistent at times drasanta that tied the throughout the year,” game in the seventh minHolguin said. “I believe ute, the visiting Phoenix this puts us close to 100 (11-7-1) unleashed an goals for the season. eight-goal onslaught to That’s what I challenged defeat second-seeded them to do at the beginJackson County 8-1 on ning of the season. Let’s Wednesday to advance get over 100 goals, and to the Sweet 16 against we’ll have a good playLong County. off run. So I’m definitely
“Eventually my guys proud of them. We were were able to tie it up, and able to put some goals we were able to settle away, and it was just a down and start playing good team effort.” like we usually do,” HolAfter the Phoenix guin said. “But they defifell down by a goal a nitely made it difficult minute and two secon us to play our game, onds into the game, Pieand they got rewarded drasanta equalized for
JEFFERSON
Sonoraville in the seventh minute when he corralled a ball in the back left corner of the box and placed a shot just inside the far post.
Six minutes later, Holbrook punched in a ball at the net to put the Phoenix up 2-1. Villatoro then rocketed a shot from well outside the 18 that slipped just inside the far post and into the side netting, increasing Sonoraville’s lead to 3-1 in the 19th minute.
Jackson County’s own goal put Sonoraville ahead 4-1 in the 27th minute, and Soldevilla scored in the box on an open net in the 28th minute to push the lead to 5-1.
Jacobo, Soldevila and Holbrook all found the back of the net in the second half as Sonoraville wrapped up a lopsided win.
Phoenix goalkeepers Adam Schwartz and Lane Moore combined for a clean sheet over the last 78:02 of the game after Jackson County’s Erick Rodriguez got the Panthers on the board in the second minute. Schwartz finished with four saves, and Moore added two.
“I have two great goalies,” Holguin said. “They’re both juniors. That goal was unlucky. Adam did everything correct. The kid just made an amazing shot, and there’s nothing he could do on that. That’s how they played throughout the whole season — really solid. When somebody goes down, the other one steps up and so on.”
With the victory, Sonoraville will move on to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year. They made it to the Elite Eight for the first time last season.
“It’s great,” Holguin said of advancing to the second round. “Last year we got knocked out of the Elite Eight by the eventual state champ, and I hope going into the next game that we can play well and then go from there.” we went up 2- 0,” said Rice. “We had seen East Jackson play a few matches, and we knew how they were going to play. Our defense has been solid all year. They don’t back down. Plus, we’ve got some subs that I can put in there and play almost any position so that’s good for us.”
Calhoun will now host Peach County in the second round. The Lady Trojans defeated Liberty County 7- 2 in the first round. Rice said the important thing is that his team is moving on, which is the name of the game once the playoffs arrive and it’s do- ordie each time out.
“We’re moving on past the first round, and a win is a win,” said Rice.
“That means that we get to come out and practice tomorrow and keep our season going. The way the bracket is set up this year, we’ll get a few days to rest up and prepare. Hopefully, we can get a little healthier and get ready for the next round.”