After being thoroughly outplayed over the first half-hour plus on Thursday night, the Trigg County boys’ soccer team saw a comeback bid fall short in a 3-2 loss to visiting Hopkins County Central.
The Storm piled on the pressure over the first thirty minutes, finally taking the lead when Ryley Vincent steered home a loose ball after a corner kick. Julio Rivera-Mena doubled the advantage just two minutes later when he beat Trigg goalkeeper Joseph Crawford from close range.
The Wildcats found a way back into the game with just over seven minutes left in the half. Ben Futrell crossed from the right side and Keller Nichols was at the back post to tuck it into the side-netting.
Trigg County’s improved play continued after the break, but it was the Storm that got on the board first in the second half. The ball found its way into the Wildcat net off the head of Gavin Lear after a collision with Crawford and a Trigg defender on the goal line.
The Wildcats continued to push to get back in the game, but couldn’t find the breakthrough until Peyton Moore drew a foul in the Storm 18-yard box to set up a penalty kick. Will Jolly scored, setting up a frantic last eight minutes of play. However, the Storm defense held on for only their second victory over the Wildcats all-time, and first in twenty-four years.
Both teams begin postseason play on Monday, with the Storm meeting Caldwell County on their home field in the first round of the 7th-District tournament. Trigg County will host Lyon County in the 5th-District title game.
