GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff took over sole-possession of third place in Region 8-4A with a thrilling 2-1 win in overtime over eighth-ranked Chestatee at the Lynn Cottrell Complex on Tuesday.
It was the fifth consecutive win for the Bears (8-4-1, 5-2 Region 8-4A) and pushed them to within one-half game of Cedar Shoals for second place. Bluff owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jaguars with a 1-0 win two weeks ago.
It was a defensive slugfest as neither team could find the net in regulation. Then the offenses came alive as all three goals were scored in the first of two overtime periods.
Chestatee’s Christian Vargas broke the scoreless tie 3:30 into the first overtime for a 1-0 lead. But the War Eagles (7-5-2, 5-4 Region 8-4A) could not hold it.
The Bears stormed back quickly. Freshman Travis Austin scored from a loose ball after a tackle from Paul Lesutis. Austin then assisted on an Isaac Madrigal goal for the lead moments later to take a 2-1 lead.
Chestatee had chances to tie but could not get the equalizer in the second overtime as the Bluff defense held on..
“I'm very proud of how we didn't let their goal bring us down,” Cherokee Bluff coach Heath Padgett said. “We got it right back and went quick to get it back. Our defense was outstanding at the end.”
The loss dropped the War Eagles into sixth place with one game remaining in the region schedule.
Cherokee Bluff has a huge test on Thursday playing host to No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Johnson at Yonah Field. The Knights have won 60 straight region contests dating back to 2015.
Chestatee is off for a week before traveling to Gilmer next Tuesday.
GAINESVILLE 4,
SHILOH 1
The Red Elephants clinched a playoff spot and moved into third place in Region 8-6A with their second straight region win on Tuesday.
Gainesville (6-7, 5-4 Region 8-6A) got a pair of goals from Austin Duran and Gabriel Ixcoy and Miguel Galaviz each scored once.
Daniel Galaviz, Levin Manzo and Hautfati Nyembue all had an assist for the Red Elephants.
Gainesville next will play host to Flowery Branch at City Park Stadium on Thursday.
EAST HALL 4,
FLOWERY BRANCH 1
The Vikings scored three second half goals to pull away for the win at Falcons Field Tuesday night.
Flowery Branch took the early lead in the 26th minute, but Jonathan Torres tied the game for East Hall just 2 minutes later on a Justin Torres assist.
It would go to the half tied at 1.
Midway through the second half, Wilder Velasquez broke the tie with a goal from outside the box in the 61st minute off a Jeo Perez assist. Jonathan Torres struck again four minutes later and then he completed the hat trick in the final minute of the game, chipping a shot over the keeper
Justin Torres finished with three assists on the night and Ainor Romero-Turcios added one assist for East Hall (8-3).
The Vikings will travel to North Hall on Friday.
Flowery Branch (1-8) travels to take on gainesville on Thursday at City Park Stadium.
