Despite a slow start, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets boys’ soccer team blanked the Rock Hill Bearcats with a 3-0 win Friday night at Bob Jones Stadium.
This was the second meeting between the two teams this season as the Bearcats got the best of Fort Mill 2-1 in the Bryan Ostrower Showcase tournament about a month ago.
However, this matchup was more important because it counted in the Region 3-5A standings.
“We are hungry,” said Fort Mill head coach Mark Seren. “We want to push ourselves. We know there is some tough teams in our region and across the state.”
The first part of the opening half saw each team trying to battle for superiority, but neither could establish it. Rock Hill and Fort Mill each got a shot at the goal, but wasn’t anything to catch their respective keepers off guard.
As the first half continued, the Jackets were able to start controlling possession a little more, but struggled on breakaways.
Fort Mill was finally able to get a goal in the 20th minute as multiple collisions at the net led to Rory Nowicki breaking free for the goal for the Jackets.
That score would hold for much of the first half as Rock Hill was held without consistent possession and could never make anything happen despite a couple throw-ins.
On the other end, Fort Mill continued to move the ball well and got several corner kicks. Although they didn’t score on those, the Jackets were able to crash the box several times which paid off as Camden Slaney scored in the 38th minute sending Fort Mill to the locker room up 2-0 at the half.
Roughly three minutes into the second half, the Jackets’ Braden Gritz scored off a free kick to extend the Fort Mill lead.
Fort Mill continued to control possession and kept the pressure on the Bearcats despite the comfortable lead. Rock Hill did play better at times in the second half, but the Jackets kept their offensive threats to a minimum.
The win improved Fort Mill to 6-4-1, but more importantly to 2-0 in Region 3-5A.
The Jackets is scheduled to travel to Spring Valley Tuesday, March 19 for their next match. Fort Mill returns home to Bob Jones Stadium Thursday, March 26 to host Nation Ford.
March 15 Roundup
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team beat Blythewood 2-0 on the road to improve to 10-3-1 overall and 1-1 in Region 3-5A play.
Late Thursday, the Fort Mill boys’ tennis team beat Clover 5-1. The Jackets were led by No. 1 Clay Wilson in the win 6-2, 6-1. Also winning for Fort Mill was No. 3 Arnav Meshram 6-1, 6-4; No. 4 Jack Childs 6-0, 6-0; No. 5 Patrick Wright 6-2, 6-1 and No. 2 doubles Cade Simms and Lucas Corlho 6-0, 6-0. Fort Mill is 3-1 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
