The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets sloshed their way to their first ever 5A Region title in boys’ soccer Thursday with a shutout win over Rock Hill.
Fort Mill slipped and slid their way to a 2-0 win on a rain soaked surface at Bob Jones Stadium to improve to 12-7-1 overall on the season and finished Region 3-5A play at 8-2.
“It feels so good to get a region title,” said Fort Mill head coach Mark Seren. “Seven games in a row. I can’t say tonight was pretty, but it was effective.”
Fort Mill scored both goals in the first half and was able to fight off Rock Hill as the Bearcats played better in the second half and challenged them more.
The first Fort Mill goal came from Aiden Price about four minutes into the match off a mishandled deflection from the Rock Hill keeper. Then in the 11th minute of the first half, the Jackets scored off a free kick from Ryan Seitz to make it 2-0.
That would be all the scoring Fort Mill was able to muster despite controlling possession the majority of the game.
The game would get chippy at times between the two teams in the second half as the aggressive play and wet weather didn’t help matters. Rock Hill was able to pressure Fort Mill more during the second half, while the Jackets had to rely on their defense and second half keeper Troy Shearin to make sure the Bearcats didn’t find the goal.
Fort Mill has won seven matches in a row and will open up the first round of the 5A playoffs on Monday with a home match. Depending on how the at-large bid turns out, it could be Rock Hill making a return trip back to Bob Jones Stadium.
Seren said they still need to work on things to make sure the Jackets are where they need to be for the first round.
“After tonight’s match, there is a whole lot of discussion that needs to go on,” he said. “We have a whole lot of individual talent and we didn’t play as a team and it showed. How you win is important.”
April 27 Roundup
Nation Ford
The only other sporting event to be held on a rainy Thursday was the second round of the 5A state tennis playoffs. Nation Ford fell to River Bluff 4-3 in the match on the road to end their season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
