Men's Soccer | 12/4/2024 9:27:00 AM
The Clinton High School Men's Soccer team were on the wrong end of a penalty shootout on Tuesday night at Arrow Field.
The Starkville Yellowjackets defeated the Arrows in a penalty shootout, 5-4, that concluded a 4-4 tie through 80 minutes of regular time and 20 minutes of overtime in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A opener. The loss dropped Clinton's record to 5-2-2 and 0-1 in region play.
The Arrows came out red hot on a bitterly cold night, scoring the opening goal in the game's first 19 seconds.
Juan Parades played a great pass to
Justin Singleton behind the Starkville back line but Singleton's shot attempt bounced off the post. The carom fell perfectly to
Wes Ambrose's feet, sprinting into the 18-yard box, and the junior calmly put the ball into the net.
However, the Yellowjackets responded 10 minutes later, tying up the match, but
Murphy Schoggen helped the Arrows regain the lead in the 14th minute. Braylon Spann's cross was mishandled by the Yellowjacket keeper, and Schoggen was able to redirect the fumble into the back of the net for Clinton's 2-1 advantage.
In the see-saw affair, Starkville found another goal before the intermission and took the lead in the 61st minute when the visitors converted a goal off a corner kick.
Now trailing 3-2, Clinton would not go away with several attempts on goal in the following minutes. It was not until the 78th minute that the Arrows were able to draw level. A free kick sent into the 18-yard box by
Bradley Wells sparked a mad scramble. As the legs scrummed for the ball, it slipped past the Starkville defenders and into their goal.
In the overtime's second half, the Yellowjackets took a 4-3 advantage, but Clinton answered two minutes later when Parades looped a volley over the goalkeepers head, sending the match to the penalty shootout.
Clinton and Starkville exchanged penalty-shot conversions in the first four rounds before the Arrows' last attempt was saved. Starkville put the nail in the game, scoring their final penalty shot.
UP NEXT
Clinton returns to action against the Pearl Pirates at Arrow Field on Saturday. It is a triple-header, kicking off with a 1:30 p.m. junior-high game followed by junior varsity and varsity teams.
