The Salem High boys fell to 9-6 with a 1-0 soccer loss against Patrick Henry Tuesday in Roanoke. The game was the second game of a doubleheader with the girls.
This one was scoreless well into the second half before the Patriots finally broke through with about 14 minutes on the clock. It was a tough loss for the Spartans, who outshot the Patriots 12-7.
“This game was the best we played all year for 80 minutes,” said Salem coach David Atkins. “I really felt like we outplayed them.”
The loss was the fourth in a row for the Spartans. Last Friday in Christiansburg Salem dropped a 4-2 decision in another close game. The Salemites went down 2-0 but battled back to tie the game on a penalty kick by Anthony Rugama and a goal by Graham Cross, who converted a cross from Rugama. Christiansburg then broke the tie with 18 minutes to go and added a late insurance goal for another heart breaking loss.
Salem is now on the bubble for making the Region 4D playoffs, and if the Spartans fail to make it Friday at home with Pulaski would be their last game of the season. The Spartans have to make the top five in their half of a very tough region and right now they’re sixth, hoping for a few losses for the teams right above them.
“It would be a shame if we don’t make it,” said Atkins. “Anthony(Rugama) and Elijah(Clark) have won more games in the last four years than anyone ever has at Salem and to have their season end on Senior Night Friday would be a real shame.”
