Jaguars clinch tie for 20-4A crown, capture shootout victory over PN-G

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Jaguars clinch tie for 20-4A crown, capture shootout victory over PN-G

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

The Port Arthur News

PORT NECHES -- Beaumont Central weathered everything Port Neches-Groves managed to fire in its direction and captured a shootout to secure a share of its first district soccer title in school history.

  The Jaguars of coach Tony Cox (15-0-1 and 15-0-1) assured themselves of at least a 20-4A co-championship in boys soccer with a 4-3 win over the Indians in a wild Tuesday night game at The Reservation.

  Coach Don Sandell's Tribe also benefittted from the night's results even after a crushing defeat. PN-G (12-4-4 and 11-3-2) gained a point in the overall district standings by forcing extra time in this game. Coupled with Nederland's 1-0 loss at Vidor, the Tuesday night results secured at least a 4A playoff berth for PN-G and eliminated Nederland from the post-season.

  Central won the 35-yard shootout, 4-2, to unlock a 3-3 score at the end of 80 regulation minutes and 20 additional overtime minutes. A 15-minute weather delay at Indian Stadium also occurred before the teams could proceed into overtime.

  "You've got to give Central credit," PN-G coach Sandell said. "They did what it took. Most importantly, I never saw Central panic. Our effort was there. We tied a good team but we had several missed opportunities."

  PN-G went first in the shootout by virtue of a coin flip. Stephen Zimmerman and Kris Hayes made shots for the Indians on the second and third rounds. Fernando Uribe, Jose Ruiz, and Horacio Cevallos converted goals on Central's first three rounds. After Alejandro Jiminez's ricochet attempt was nullified, Central's Miguel Estrada fired the victory-clinching shot by goalkeeper Eric Parks.

  Neither team had a legitimate look during the two 10-minute overtime sessions. Jiminez outjumped a PN-G defender and headed in the last and perhaps most crucial regulation goal. The Jaguars tied the game at 3-3 with 3:24 left in regulation after Cevallos attempted a free kick. The ball deflected toward Jiminez for the header.

  Uribe and Cevallos combined on a 2-on-1 fast break for the only other second-half goal as Central reduced PN-G's lead to 3-2 midway in the second half.

  Cevallos opened the scoring in the game's 12th minute with a penalty kick. PN-G tied it six minutes later as Bryce Tallant scored after taking an assist from Evan Johnson. Matt Parks' header off Nathan Romero's throw-in gave PN-G a 2-1 lead with 18 minutes left in the half. Then at the nine-minute mark, Central tried to clear out a ball from its defensive end and Sean LeBlanc had other ideas, giving the Indians a 3-1 lead.

  The Indians will have no time to lick their wounds because they will travel to Vidor on Friday at 7 p.m.

[Guest Soccerfan]

actually if lumberton wins on tuesday in regulation arent they the outright district champs. They would win by 1 point.

[WTB]

central only got 2 points for the tie so if Lumberton wins their last 2 games in regulation then they are district champs