Soccer Mavs end as runner-up in District 4-AAA, advance to region tourney play
For the second time in 2024, the Anderson County High School boys soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Gibbs High School.
The Mavericks, who lost a 1-0 decision to the Eagles early in the regular season in the District 4-AAA opener for both schools in March, dropped another 1-0 match to Gibbs Saturday morning at Ernest Whited Stadium in Corryton.
The two sides were embroiled in a scoreless tie until Gibbs, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, managed to score by putting the ball in the back of the Anderson County net with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
The loss was a bitter pill for the Mavericks to swallow, but it didn’t end ACHS’s 2024 campaign.
The Mavericks moved on to the Region 2-AAA tournament elimination semifinals.
They played Cocke County in Newport Tuesday night but results were not available at press time. A win against the Fighting Cocks would set up a possible rematch with Gibbs in Corryton on Thursday.
“That (the district championship match) was really frustrating,” ACHS Coach Chris Curtin said.
“The good thing is that it didn’t end our season. I don’t know all that much about Cocke County, but their schedule didn’t look like it was the toughest.
“We had a good overall tram effort and they passed the ball well,” he said. “We held them down until about four-and-a-half minutes left, and then they got one to go in. It would be nice to win and get another shot at them.”