Noah Reynolds of Craig gets a header as Marjorie Price(#10) moves in.
The Craig County soccer team finished the season with a flourish, winning their last regular season game and making a strong showing in the district tournament.
The first year Rockets were winless heading into the their final regular season game, but they made county soccer history with an 6-0 win at Narrows for this first varsity victory. Dalton Henderson scored a three-goal hat trick, Caleb Todd scored twice and Tanner Duncan had a goal.
Craig met Narrows again in the first round of the Pioneer District tournament, and this time the Rockets beat the Green Wave 8-0 in New Castle. With the victory the team took a two-game winning streak to Southern Virginia University near Parry McCluer for the district semifinals. Craig was matched against top-seeded Covington in this one, a team that beat the Rockets badly the first time around.
Cody Hutchinson sends the ball down field against Covington.
This time, however, it was a whole different ballgame. The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through regulation, and after two five minutes overtime periods and a sudden death overtime nothing was settled, as the score remained naught for both.
A shootout came next, with each team getting five tries. Josh Menezes, Clayton Owens and Cody Hutchinson connected for Craig but both teams made three of their five tries and the score remained tied.
Next was a “sudden death shootout.” After a coin flip Covington went first and was denied, giving Craig a chance to win it right there. However, the Rockets failed to convert and it went a second round. Covington connected in the second round and Craig did not, giving the Cougars a win in one of the most exciting games of the entire high school season.
“We played so well,” said Craig coach Robin Nobles. “The Covington people thought we brought in some different players for this game.”
With the loss Craig had one more game, a third place game at SVU, and the Rockets lost that one to Bath County, 6-2. Craig finished with an overall record of 2-8, but the improvement at the end of the season was stunning.
Dalton Henderson gathers in a loose ball for the Rockets.
“We made tremendous improvement,” said Nobles. “It took us a while to figure out where everyone was good at, but I think we finally got everyone in the right place.”
After the tournament Marjorie Price and Dalton Henderson were named to the All-Pioneer District team. Honorable Mention went to Andrew Kendall, Cody Hutchinson, Brianna Charlton, Noah Reynolds, Tanner Duncan, Clayton Owens, Logan Kittler and Lauren Craddock.
“I was disappointed that Andrew(Kendall) didn’t make first team,” said Nobles. “I thought he was the best goalie in the district and he missed it by one vote.”
