RABBITTOWN, Ga. — Hector Aguilar scored twice to lead the Gainesville boys soccer team to a season-opening 3-2 win over East Hall on Monday at East Hall Stadium.
It also was the second win in the newly-created Copa 985 league for the Red Elephants (1-0). They beat West Hall 2-0 on Friday in a scrimmage that counts for the Copa but not for the regular season.
Gainesville never trailed as Aguilar converted a penalty kick in the first half for a 1-0 lead and it stayed that way until early in the second. Aguilar struck again just five minutes into the second on a free kick to push the lead to 2-0. But the Vikings (0-1) did not go away.
Yerli Mejia blasted in a free kick from the top of the box with 20 minutes left to cut the lead to 2-1. Gainesville answered quickly, however.
Miguel Galaviz scored off an assist from Gabriel Ixcoy on a corner two minutes later to push the lead back to 3-1.
East Hall closed the gap to 3-2 with four minutes left as David Loza scored off a beautiful feed from Justin Torres. But the Vikings could not get the equalizer.
Both teams will be back in action on Friday. Gainesville will play host to Morgan County while East Hall will play host to Habersham Central in another Copa 985 matchup.
