The Gilmer High Bobcats are set to host their first-ever state playoff soccer match.
Gilmer secured the home match by picking up two more wins in the final week of the season. GHS hosted Ringgold last Monday and netted five first-half goals to send the Tigers reeling. RHS never recovered in the second half as the Cats strolled to a 5-0 win.
North Murray was in town Thursday, and the Mountaineers were able to tie the score before halftime. The Cats scored the go-ahead goal with less than eight minutes to play for a 2-1 win, which marked their 12th win of the season.
Ringgold was under constant attack from start to finish. GHS blasted 42 shots on the night compared to just 13 for RHS. Jorge Flores started the day with a goal 14 minutes into the game. He received a centered pass from Fredy Ramirez and found the back of the net from 13 yards out.
Less than two minutes later, a give-and-go pass from Alex Tercero and Liam Engel resulted in a goal for the former. Engel passed between a defender’s legs and Tercero hammered the shot home from close range.
Keby Puac scored off a deflection 15 minutes before halftime. He sent a laser into the net from 19 yards after a pass bounced off the leg of a Tiger defender.
Less than a minute later, Flores received a pass on the right flank and split two defenders and scored from just yards away for a 4-0 lead.
GHS added a fifth goal 13 minutes ahead of the half. This time Flores sent a rocket into the upper-right corner of the net from 23 yards.
GHS goalkeeper Talyn Curtis made five saves on the day to help preserve Gilmer’s 11th shutout of the season.
North Murray put up more of a fight Thursday, but GHS was still able to fire 28 shots while maintaining 59 percent possession.
Flores passed to Ramirez, who found himself alone between two defenders in a threatening position. Ramirez was able to freely turn, and his uninterrupted shot from 20 yards out gave GHS the lead 16 minutes into the match.
With 1:02 to play in the half, North Murray evened the score. A free kick from 43 yards out found a Mountaineer in the box for a 9-yard header and goal.
Angel Garcia, Brayner Ortiz, Tercero and Engel continued to put pressure on NM’s back line over the opening 20 minutes of the second half. With 15:27 on the clock, GHS drew a foul in the box. Ortiz took the penalty kick, but his shot was saved.
However, GHS went ahead for good nearly eight minutes later. A Flores pass down the right wing led to a cross, which found Ortiz at the far post. He sent the ball into the net to secure the win.
NM had 11 shots on the night and Curtis made five saves.
GHS finished with a 12-3 seasonal record and are seeded No. 16 in the Class 3A state playoffs. The Cats will host Cairo Friday at 5:30 p.m.