Pam Pack hit with first loss of season in 2OT soccer setback

Published 3:02 am Friday, October 11, 2024

By Jason O. Boyd

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WASHINGTON, N.C. – As euphoric as the Washington High School soccer team was after a dramatic goal near the end of regulation forced overtime Thursday with Greene Central, emotions went the other way in the second extra session.

Greene Central scored a goal in the second overtime and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Pam Pack. It was the first loss of the season for Washington in the first meeting of the season between the two soccer powers, who were playing for sole possession of first place in the Eastern Plains Conference.

The game was played Thursday after it was postponed due to weather back in September.

The contest was a chippy one with players on both sides falling and battling injuries. The officials also handed out a lot of yellow and red cards. In fact, Washington’s David Barrera was given a red card in the 20th minute, meaning Washington had to play a man down for the last 80 minutes.

“Our game plan was try to get up on the lead early, and of course we did,” Washington coach Jim Kozuch said. “But playing a man down, they (Greene Central) are a fantastic team, so all credit to them.

“But playing a man down, we knew that we had to be defensive and try to take our chances when we could. And of course, yeah, scoring that goal late in the second half, it was a fantastic shot.”

Washington (12-1-1, 3-1-1 EPC) took command in the fourth minute. Will Glover rolled right and punched a shot that hit Greene Central’s goalie and rolled past. Victor Barrera got the ball and punched it into the net for a 1-0 Pam Pack lead.

Greene Central (12-3, 7-0 EPC) got a goal back on a breakaway that Angel Contreras punched in during the final minute to make it 1-1 at the half. The Rams seemingly stole momentum during the 23rd minute of the second half when, on a free kick, Miguel Zavala got the ball past Washington keeper Jacob Daniels for a 2-1 lead.

Then came Hector Olivares’ almost golden goal. During the 75th minute, Olivares booted a beauty from around 30 yards out. It sailed over several Greene Central defenders and into the top part of the net. That set off a wild celebration as Pam Pack teammates chased Olivares down and mobbed him on the sideline in celebration.

After both teams missed opportunities in the first overtime, the Rams took the lead in the 98th minute when Zavala broke free from what appeared to be offsides and, instead, put the ball in the back of Washington’s net for what proved to be the winning goal.

“You know, and it stinks to give the goal that we did,” Kozuch said. I’m all but sure that that last goal was offsides and it wasn’t called.

“Yeah, I mean, and we are a defensive team, but, you know, we would have loved to have continued pressing on them because I felt like, you know, I felt like we did have the momentum and, you know, when you have the momentum, you want to push on them.

“And I do think that full-sided, the game would have been a different result tonight.”

The two teams are scheduled to square off again on Tuesday in Snow Hill.

 

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