The Clover High School boys’ soccer team scored four second-half goals to power past region opponent Fort Mill in a 4-0 win Tuesday evening at Bob Jones Stadium.
Sophomore striker Andy Young scored twice, while junior Jakeem Amuda and sophomore Gavin Eagan both chipped in goals in the final 40 minutes. With the result, Clover, Fort Mill and Nation Ford are now tied in Region 3-5A with a 2-1 record.
Clover coach Graham Stafford said he was proud of his young team for turning over their opponents and getting back in the hunt for the region title.
“This was a big swing,” he said. “If we lost tonight, we would have been on the outside looking in. Fort Mill did us a favor beating Nation Ford last week, so this opens up the region again. It’s almost like we’re all 0-0 again. It might go down to the last game.”
After a cagey opening half, Clover entered the second half with energy. Amuda made it 1-0 when his shot from the right wing barely slipped under Fort Mill’s goalkeeper Grayson Ainsley. Four minutes later, Young doubled the Blue Eagles’ advantage with a long-range effort.
Fort Mill coach Mark Seren said his team, who is now 4-5-2 overall, came out flat in the second half, and lost their spirit after conceding the first two goals.
“It’s unfortunate, coming from the nice win we had over Nation Ford (last week), but the team didn’t have the mental toughness,” he said. “We started to break down, the boys were dejected, nobody was supporting each other verbally.”
Fort Mill’s Luke McCoy found himself wide open in the Clover box for a header in the 51st minute, but his effort skipped just wide of the near post. After being subbed on to replace Ainsley, Fort Mill keeper Tradd Beauchamp was called for a foul in the penalty box in the 60th minute. Young was able to convert the ensuing penalty to Beauchamp’s right to make it 3-0.
And in the 68th minute, Eagan finished the scoring when his smart right-footed shot beat Beauchamp to make it 4-0.
Stafford said it was part of the game plan to match Fort Mill’s intensity, as his team had been bullied in previous games.
“We worked hard,” he said. “I think we got the result we deserved. Four goals is great, but I’m more happy and satisfied with a shutout.”
Seren said his team left the field disappointed in themselves. In the post-game, Seren said the team made a personal commitment not to repeat Tuesday’s performance.
“This was more of a mental game than a physical game,” Seren said. “I told the boys that the scoreline was unacceptable… We’ve got to grind out results, win the one-on-one battles, support the team and create chances.”
Fort Mill next travels to Spartanburg to face Boiling Springs in a region game April 12 before facing Gaffney on the road April 16.
Golf
Fort Mill golf swept a three-way match against Catawba Ridge and Northwestern at Tega Cay Golf Club. Fort Mill shot a 149 and was led by even par scores from Bryce Wittmer and Cam Baker with rounds of 36 each. Erik Zeppelin was one stroke back with a 37 and Griffin Tarver show a 40 to finish the scoring for the Jackets.
Catawba Ridge shot a 164 and was led by OT Mitchell with a 37. Nolan Will shot a 40 and Hunter Warren shot a 42. Emerson Hill finished the scoring for the Copperheads with a 45.
Tennis
Nation Ford beat Boiling Springs 6-0 winning all six matches in straight sets. Winning singles matches for the Falcons was Juan Arbelaez 6-0, 6-2; Charlie Lynch 6-1, 6-0; Ian Drane 6-0, 6-0; Gage Fenbert 6-1, 6-1 and Akhil Kanthamneni 6-1, 6-0. In doubles, Shiv Patel and George Lynch won 6-0, 6-4.
Fort Mill blanked Clover 6-0 winning all their matches in straight sets. Winning singles matches for the Jackets was Zach Dodson 6-1, 6-0; Simon Huertas del Pinto 6-2, 6-2; Connor Hilsmier 6-1, 6-2; Chase Harris 6-0, 6-0 and Dillon Fraser 6-4, 6-2. Ryan Lake and Noah Bogucki teamed up in doubles to win 6-0, 6-0. Fort Mill is now 4-0 on the season and will play Nation Ford at home April 1.
Soccer
Catawba Ridge boys beat South Pointe 7-1 to improve to 5-0 in Region 3-4A and 13-0-2 overall. They play again Friday at York.
The Copperhead girls beat South Pointe 4-0 with goals from Marin White, Adrienne Cooper, Emma Sexton and Sadie Commerford in the win. Catawba Ridge girls improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in region play.
Nation Ford girls beat Boiling Springs 3-0 to improve to 9-2 overall and 4-0 in Region 3-5A.
Baseball
The Nation Ford Falcons took game two over Boiling Springs 7-3 to improve to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in Region 3-5A. Series deciding game three is set for Thursday at Boiling Springs. Justin Lehman went 2-2 and Seth Hanson and Avery Childs each had two RBI in the game. Jacob Boyna threw six innings and struck out four.
Catawba Ridge fell 10-1 to York for the second consecutive game and is now 5-4 overall on the season and 2-2 in Region 3-4A. They are scheduled to finish the series at home Friday night.
