The Shadow
The Alleghany boys soccer team played host to Northside in the Blue Ridge District tournament play-in game Monday and posted a close 3-2 win over the visiting Vikings.
Alleghany (11-3-3) already owned two wins over Northside, beating the Vikings 7-0 and 5-1 during the regular season, but Northside would not go down without a fight.
Alleghany nearly took a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the match, but Brian Cody’s shot sailed just high over the crossbar and the game was still knotted at zero.
But a minute later, Alleghany’s Cassidy Burns booted one into the back of the net off a corner kick from Tyler Farrar to put Alleghany on top 1-0.
The lead was short-lived as the Vikings retaliated four minutes later when midfielder Sean Joyner sent a shot past a sprawling Stevie Caldwell and into the left side of the net to knot the score at one.
Alleghany had a number of opportunities to take the lead before the half but could not capitalize.
Burns just missed wide right in the 31st minute and Tanner Seay nearly sent a header into the back of the net a minute later, but Northside’s goalkeeper Isaac Padgett was able to make the save.
Northside’s Schneider Balisage had a one-on-one opportunity with Caldwell after sneaking behind the AHS defense in the 37th minute but Caldwell came up with a big diving save to deflect the ball wide left and the teams went into the locker room at the half knotted at one.
The Vikings struck first in the second half as Balisage bounced a shot off two Alleghany defenders and past Caldwell to give Northside a 2-1 lead a minute into the second half.
Burns crossed one into the box and found an open Cody, who sent a shot a past Padgett to knot the score.
Both teams squandered scoring opportunities over the next 30 minutes until Farrar sent an outlet pass up to Henok Netere and Netere slipped a shot past Padgett to give Alleghany a 3-2 lead with a little over five minutes remaining in the match.
The goal proved to be the difference as Alleghany held on for the 3-2 win and will advance to face Blue Ridge District regular season champion Lord Botetourt Wednesday at Northside High School at 5:30 p.m.
“It was an exciting game,” said Alleghany coach Brian Berry. “Everybody fought hard and both teams refused to give up. My team gave it there all for 80 minute and especially played hard in the second half. That was the best I’ve seen Northside look all year long. They are going to be tough next season.”
Stevie Caldwell finished with seven saves in goal for the Mountaineers as Alleghany outshot their visitors, 19-9.
