The Long County Blue Tide soccer teams welcomed in the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets for two big region games on Tuesday, March 11. Both teams walked away with wins but neither came easily, as the girls won 5-2 and the boys taking a shootout win 3-2.
The Lady Jackets were undefeated and had allowed just one goal on the season. That changed about midway through the first half, but it came after the Jackets took the early lead.
In the 14th minute, the Jackets were the first to strike as the goal just got past keeper Safeara McGhee, the only shot on goal she didn’t save in the first half.
Shortly after, however, the Tide answered. Myjah Fedon got an open look after a crossing pass from Ananayely Martinez to tie the game 1-1.
In the 25th minute, the Tide were awarded a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Macey Higgason lined up for the shot and put it through to give the Tide the 2-1 lead.
A minute later, Fedon scored again after a shot just dribbled past the Jacket keeper and make the score 3-1.
In the 34th minute, Ciara O’Brien found the net as she blasted a shot from outside the box to make the score 4-1 at the half.
Despite a three-goal lead, the Lady Tide seemed to struggle in the second half. After outshooting the Jackets 13-3 in the first half, the Tide could not get many looks on goal in the second.
The Jackets finally got back on the board in the 58th minute off a header to make the score 4-2.
The game was much quieter offensively from there on as only a total of six shots were taken by either team. However, in the 70th minute, the Tide added some insurance.
Fedon took a pass from Reese Davis and pushed it past the keeper to complete her hat trick.
The Lady Tide moved to 8-1 and 4-1 in region play, their only blemish so far coming against the Calvary Day Cavaliers.
The boys took the field looking for their first region win of the season. In the first 22 minutes of the game, however, it looked like they would be taking another loss.
The Jackets scored early, getting an open look on a crosser to go up 1-0 in the fifth minute. Midway through the first half, they scored again, this time on a breakaway and open shot to go up 2-0.
In the 29th minute, Luis Medina scored from outside the box to make the score 2-1. Something seemed to turn the Tide in the second half as they came out furious on the offensive side.
In the first eight minutes, they took six shots on goal but could not score. In the 48th minute, the Tide finally found paydirt as Matthew Tewalt’s shot was good to tie the score at 2-2.
The Jackets were called for a handball inside the box, setting up a penalty kick for the Tide. Chris Contreras’ shot was stopped to preserve the tie.
Contreras came up with a big sliding save in the box and keeper Ismael Pina Sotelo made a great stop on a header in the 75th minute.
In the final two minutes, Medina got a look from just outside the box as the Jackets were hit with a yellow card. It was too high, however, as the score remained tied at 2-2 as regulation time was called.
After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout.
There were only four shots taken across the 20 minutes of overtime and neither team led as the final buzzer sounded. This led to a shootout.
Contreras took the final shot for the Tide in the first round, making it 3-2 with one shot left for the Jackets. It was too high as the Tide won the shootout 3-2 to win the game.
With the all-important win, the Tide move 5-4 and 1-4 in region play. They will need to bounce back quickly, however as they play in Savannah on Thursday, March 13 against the Groves Rebels in another key region game.
