The Salem High boys’ soccer team will open Region 4D tournament play on Wednesday, May 28, with a home game against Halifax at Spartan Field. The Spartans are the fourth seed in the region and the Comets are fifth, with the winner traveling to Blacksburg for the second round on June 2nd.
Salem completed the regular season with a split last week. On Wednesday in Dublin they defeated Pulaski County, 5-1. Tyler Gillinger opened the scoring 10 minutes in, assisted by Elijah Clark, and Salem added three more goals before the end of the half to go into the break up 4-0. Clark scored unassisted, Logan Lavinder scored with an assist from Graham Cross and then Lavinder scored again, this time unassisted.
Anthony Rugama added a goal in the second half, assisted by Lavinder, and Robert Herndon finished with three saves in goal.
Last Friday the Spartans hosted Patrick Henry for a wet “Senior Night” and dropped a 2-1 game to conclude the regular season. The Patriots scored early and led for most of the game before Anthony Rugama of Salem knotted the score at 1-1 with 10 minutes on the clock, assisted by Clark.
Five and a half minutes later PH regained the lead and that stood up for the 2-1 final.
“Very good effort by our guys,” said Salem coach David Atkins. “Unfortunately we came up just a little short.”
Salem finished the regular season with an 11-6 overall record and a 6-6 mark in River Ridge District games.
