Preston Thomas Scores Four to Send Blazers to Regional Semis (w/PHOTOS)

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The UHA Blazers had their backs firmly against the wall Tuesday night. Webster County had just scored early in the second half to take a 2-0 lead in their 2nd Region boys’ soccer quarterfinal match and appeared to have the Blazers teetering on the brink of their season coming to an end.

University Heights was looking for someone to step up and ignite a second-half rally. Preston Thomas came to the forefront and said “here I am.”

Thomas would score four goals over the final 34 minutes of the match, including the goal that sent the match to overtime late in regulation, and then the game-winner in the first sudden-death overtime period as the Blazers survived an opening-round test from Webster County 4-3 to advance to Wednesday night’s semifinals.

Webster County had the Blazers on their heels in the early going, not allowing the Blazers to get their offensive attack rolling. The Trojans took a 1-0 lead when Oscar Castro took a pass from Rocky Juan and found the net just five minutes into the match. That score would still be in place at the half.

Webster County looked to have things rolling in their direction when Evan DeLamar found the ball in traffic in front of the net and scored to push the lead to 2-0 at the 46:00 mark.

Then it was “Preston time.”

Just 30 seconds after the Trojans scored, Ethan Hale crossed a past to Preston Thomas, with Thomas drilling the shot to cut the lead to 2-1. Eight minutes later, Thomas rebounded a missed shot into the net and the match was even at 2-2.

The Trojans grabbed the momentum back at 64:30 when David Velasco scored to put Webster back in front 3-2.

With the clock ticking away and taking the Blazers’ season with it, Preston Thomas came up big. Thomas took a crossing pass from Connor Dill and rocketed the ball into the net to tie the match with less than five minutes to go. With neither team able to snag the win late, the match headed into overtime.

The two teams battled up and down the field and just as it appeared the match would head into the second sudden-death overtime period, Thomas came open on a run and scored the game-winner with just 17 seconds left in the first overtime.

The win improves UHA’s record to 12-10 on the year. The Blazers now move into Wednesday night’s semifinal match against Caldwell County. The winner will play Thursday night for the regional title.

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