A Spring Creek player battles with Roanoke Rapids’ Jeremy Robertson, back, for possession of the ball during their playoff game Saturday evening in “The Swamp.” (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — A stunned Homar Castro stared into the distance.
One teammate knelt and wept.
Another received hugs from the opposing players.
It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
Just days after clinching an unprecedented fourth conference championship, Spring Creek’s soccer playoff run ended prematurely Saturday evening.
A team the Gators had defeated in regular-season play pulled off the unthinkable.
Roanoke Rapids prevailed 5-4 in a tension-filled, penalty-kick shootout and advanced in the NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A playoffs.
“Just heartbroken,” SC head coach Miguel Torres said. “It’s extremely tough for the boys.”
The eighth-seeded Gators misfired on a corner-kick opportunity less than 10 minutes into the opening half. Two corner kicks in the final 30 seconds before intermission appeared to reduce a much-needed result.
But the ball on the second CK attempt rolled into the net after time expired.
Those scoring chances, however, were just a short offensive burst from a disjointed 40-minute effort. Lack of communication, disconnected passes and turnovers in a clogged midfield concerned Torres.
“I think the boys were trying to shake off the nerves at the beginning, just weren’t able to settle down,” Torres said. “It was just hard to get the ball going, get moving [off the ball] and that’s something we talked about at halftime.
“I was hoping the players with experience would come up [in the second half]. But we just showed our lack of confidence with the ball and we were trying to get that back in the second half.”
Roanoke Rapids, the 25th seed, continued to play physical and challenge for every loose ball. The Yellow Jackets (10-10-0 overall) pressured well between the 18-yard boxes, but couldn’t finish possessions.
Regulation ended in a scoreless draw.
Spring Creek scored 61 seconds into the first 10-minute overtime session. Yomar Carias gathered a loose ball down the left sideline and ripped a goal-scoring cross to the back post.
The Gators carried that one-goal advantage into the second OT session. Their energy level picked up and they attempted three shots on frame — all stopped by Yellow Jackets net-minder Edenilson Saravia.
After Savaria’s third save, Roanoke Rapids leveled the match at 1-all on Balmoris Gonzales’ unassisted goal. It was redemption for the senior, who missed a first-half shot that rolled just wide of the left post.
“We tried to limit his chances,” Torres said. “He had just one opportunity all game and he was able to put it into the back of the net. That’s what top players do. Credit to him.”
The teams remained knotted at 1-1 after two five-minute OT periods, which set up the nail-biting PK shootout.
Each team converted 4 of 5 attempts.
The Gators misfired on their sixth shot.
His team’s season hanging in the balance, the Yellow Jackets’ Jacob Moreno stepped up to the ball. He took a stutter step and caught SC’s keeper Edgar Avila flat-footed.
Moreno’s shot kissed the net.
Upset complete.
“PKs can just take your breath away,” Torres said. “I’ve been on sides where we’ve won playoff PKs and it’s an amazing euphoria. But, unfortunately tonight, we were on the losing end and that’s the worst feeling.
“But, that’s futbol.”
Nine seniors played their final outing in “The Swamp” — Avila, Jeheili Velasquez-Sanchez, Homar Lopez Castro, Yonatan Gonzalez Morales, Efrain Cabrera Lopez, Diego Lopez Morales, Marin Lopez-Perez, Luis Roblero Velasquez and Emanuel Rangel.
The group helped guide the Gators to four straight Neuse Six 2A Conference regular-season titles. They won 39 of 40 league games during that stretch.
SC filed a 14-9-2 worksheet that included 11 shutouts — eight against league opposition — this season. They allowed just two goals in conference play and had a school-record streak of 644 consecutive scoreless minutes.
“Tonight is just that feeling of pain and a tough pill to swallow,” Torres said as he wiped tears from his eyes. “I will definitely sit down, reflect and analyze how the season went. [Then] start working towards next season.”
Rest assured, neither he nor his players will forget the sting they feel, either.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
