The Franklin County High School boys soccer team gathers together on the field after beating Central Magnet 4-0 in the Region 4AA championship game Wednesday.
The Franklin County High School boys soccer team gathers together on the field after beating Central Magnet 4-0 in the Region 4AA championship game Wednesday.
The Franklin County High School boys soccer team beat the Central Magnet Tigers 4-0 at Siegel Wednesday in the Region 4AA championship game.
Franklin County scored two goals in each half to steadily pull away as the team avenged two losses to Central Magnet earlier in the year to claim a regional title.
Franklin County head soccer coach Kent Bean said that his team made some strategic adjustments going into the game, and he praised his players for buying into the changes and following the game plan perfectly. Bean also thanked Central Magnet for agreeing to play the game a day earlier than most other regional title games for boys soccer to avoid a conflict with Thursday’s graduation ceremony for FCHS.
The first goal of the day came with 27:13 remaining in the first half as Kevin Hernandez dribbled down the field and hit a shot which got past the opposing goalkeeper to give Franklin County an early advantage.
Franklin County scored again with about three minutes remaining in the first half as a throw-in from Loui Arellano was deflected by Hernandez to Cason Eslick, and Eslick knocked the ball into the net with a header to make it a 2-0 game. It was the seventh goal of the season for Eslick.
Franklin County led 2-0 at halftime.
The next goal for Franklin County came about 11 minutes into the second half as Hernandez scored on a long free kick to grow the deficit up to 3-0. The goal was the second of the day and the 32nd of the year for Hernandez.
Arellano recorded the final goal of the day for Franklin County with 17:33 left on the clock as he fired a hard shot which hit the back corner of the net for his fifth goal of the campaign.
The Tigers wouldn’t be able to answer back in the time remaining as Franklin County goalkeeper Mason Woodall and his defense recorded the team’s third shutout of the season.
With the win, Franklin County improved to 9-5-3 on the season.
The boys soccer team will next play Saturday at home against Alcoa High School in a sub-state game. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
