The Kosciusko boys’ and girls’ soccer teams both had a win against Northeast Lauderdale and a loss to Newton County in Region 4-4A games.
The Whippets were defeated by Newton County 4-2 but rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Northeast Lauderdale.
The Newton County game was 2-2 until the final three minutes. A call went against Kosciusko resulting in a penalty kick that gave Newton County a 3-2 lead.
“Our team kind of lost their way a little bit and they were able to get another one,” said coach Greg Cooper. “As I told the other coach, I thought it was an overall really good game, a very close game.”
Kosciusko took a 1-0 lead when Dan Lindsay scored off a pass from Jon Gant. After Newton County scored twice for a 2-1 halftime lead, Kosciusko tied the game when Gant headed in a free kick from Will Carter.
Northeast Lauderdale scored first, but Kosciusko evened the score before halftime when Lindsay scored off a cross from Jorge Orduna. Robert Pickle scored the winning goal unassisted.
“The ball kind of bounced around and came to him,” Cooper said. His shot hit the cross bar and bounded into the goal.
Cooper said the Whippets received strong play in both games from midfielders Pickle, Carter and Thomas Sims.
The results left the Whippets at 3-2 in region play, trailing Newton County 5-0 and West Lauderdale 4-1. The top two teams will make the MHSAA playoffs.
Kosciusko's other region loss was 2-1 against West Lauderdale. The first game following the Christmas break will be at West Lauderdale January 3. If Kosciusko wins and the teams finish tied, the tiebreaker is total goals in the two games.
The rematch with Newton County will be January 11.
GIRLS
The Lady Whippets lost to Newton County 7-0 but defeated Northeast Lauderdale 4-1.
Before the Newton County game, Cooper told his team that the one player they needed to keep the ball away from was number 21, Kaylee Avant. But Newton County's opening kickoff went to Avant and she scored in the first minute.
“That kind of set the tone. We never really recovered,” said Cooper.
The Whippets lost Anna Carol Gowan when she was hit in the face. “It was friendly fire,” Cooper said. “One of our girls was trying to clear the ball. Wrong place at the wrong time.”
Gowan missed the Northeast Lauderdale game for a concussion protocol.
Against Northeast Lauderdale, Raven Pernell had two goals and an assist, Lanna Nunley a goal and an assist, Gracie Singletary a goal and Kaleigh Lewis an assist.
Kosciusko is 2-3 in region play.
