Jessie Stament admitted thoughts of the 2023 playoff opener ran through his head Monday, April 29, before his squad’s Class 5A playoff opener.
Stratford High School’s players ensured their coach’s concerns were unwarranted. They weren’t going to fall in the opening round again.
Six players scored goals – three in each half – as the Knights tallied their highest goal output of the season in a 6-1 victory over visiting Dutch Fork.
“It took us a little while,” Stament said. “Initially, we weren’t playing our game. Then, we just got everything connected. We found a goal, then found another. Everything started falling into place. We had a good practice (Sunday). The message to the boys was nothing is guaranteed. If they wanted to have another game and another practice, they had to earn it.”
They earned even more time together this spring two days later.
The top-seeded Knights (17-5-1) then tangled with Socastee in the second round Wednesday, May 1, and moved on to the third round with a 3-1 victory.
Jackson McNeil, Terence Seals, Brandon Martinez, Silas Miller, Harold Carranza and Kevin Ramirez Gomez scored goals for the Knights against Dutch Fork (17-7).
In the win over Socastee (13-8), Vinny Teixeira tallied the first Stratford goal and McNeil booted in the other two goals.
Stratford travels to River Bluff Friday, May 3, in the third round.
The winner meets either Wando or Ashley Ridge Monday, May 6, for the Lower State title. The state championship is set for Friday, May 10.
Cane Bay boys 4
St. James 3
Cane Bay’s boys soccer team won its Class 5A playoff opener against St. James.
Payton Shoemaker powered the Cobras with three goals, and Jayden Hernandez scored the other.
Cane Bay, from Region 6-5A, played at Ashley Ridge Wednesday, May 1, in the second round and fell 7-0.
Another Region 6-5A team, Goose Creek, dropped its playoff opener at River Bluff (8-0).
Buford 14,
Timberland 1
Timberland's boys dropped its Class 2A playoff opener Monday, April 29, on the road at Buford.
Michael Yannacey tallied the lone goal for the Wolves (7-13).
