PHOTO BY JON FLEMING
It was the same old story for the Salem High boys’ soccer team Monday. The Spartans had a very good team and a very good season, but just not quite as good as Blacksburg.
Salem lost to the Bruins in the South Sub-Region 4D tournament Monday in Blacksburg, 1-0, to see their season come to an end. The Spartans finished 0-3 against Blacksburg and 12-3 against everyone else.
“A very tough loss,” said Salem coach David Atkins. “I felt like we were the better team for much of the game, but they finished one of their chances and we failed to put away ours. It was our best on field performance of the season. The guys played hard and played well and fought until the very end.”
The shots on goal were even at six each. Robert Herndon had four saves in the goal for the Spartans and the Salem defense played well to hold the talented Bruins to just one goal. In the other two losses to Blacksburg the scores were 4-1 and 3-1.
“All of the guys played well with our backline, Elijah Clark and Anthony Rugama playing their best games of the season,” said Atkins.
Salem had a goal called back in the first half on what Atkins felt was a very questionable foul called in the box.
“TJ Fisher scored off a free kick from Logan Lavinder, but the ref called a foul on TJ and the goal was disallowed,” said Atkins.
Salem opened region play with a 9-0 win over Halifax County at Spartan Field last week. Lavinder had a three goal hat trick and he also had three assists. Rugama also had three goals and scoring once each were Fisher, Tyler Gillinger and Ian Berroteran. Elijah Clark had three assists.
“I’m proud of their effort and how they grew as a team as the season went along,” said Atkins. “As a coach you want your guys playing their best at the end of the year when the games matter most and that’s exactly what this group did.”
Salem will graduate seven seniors, including five starters. Also, the All-River Ridge District team was announced and Lavinder, Fisher, Rugama and Clark made the first team. Graham Cross was second team and Gillinger was Honorable Mention.
“We have some very talented players returning along with some younger guys who will be moving up to varsity next year,” said Atkins. “I think we will be a younger team but still a talented and dangerous side.”
