The Hixson soccer team got some late heroics twice in a back-and-forth match with District 6-A/AA foe East Ridge on Tuesday. The Wildcats scored in the last four minutes of each half for a 2-1 win over the Pioneers.
Although Hixson had the final say, East Ridge got on the board first. A handball in the box gave the Pioneers a penalty kick, which Luis Guzman pounded into the lower left corner.
"Both teams were going at it, and there were shifts in momentum," East Ridge coach Jeremy McIntyre said. "We looked good the first 20 minutes, and they had it the last 20 minutes of the first half."
Hixson's Jesus Leon and East Ridge's Rivaldo Yoc Bamaca work for possession Tuesday at Hixson High School.Javier Andres had a shot to stretch the Pioneers' lead with 26:40 to play in the opening half, but Jake Powell made a diving save to keep his team within one. Powell's heroics paid off with under two minutes to go, as Spencer Groves tapped in the equalizer.
Cergio Maldonado fired a shot on goal that was deflected to Groves, who made the most of the opening.
"Games are always tight with us," said Wildcats coach Jeff Dean. "I think we played good but not great. We didn't play well in the first half, but I think we outplayed them in the second."
The teams continued to wrestle for momentum in the second half, but neither seemed to get a clean look, and many times a defender swooped in to knock the ball away from a potential attacker.
"We have to work on one-touch, two-touch stuff and getting some width," McIntyre said. "I think a couple of times we held the ball a little too long."
Hixson was aggressive in the final half and used crosses to attack. Several times, a pass lingered dangerously across the face of the Pioneers' goal before being cleared.
With the clock ticking under 3:40 to play in the game, the Wildcats broke through. A corner kick sailed in, and Bryan Alfaro leaped to head it in.
"Our guys know they have that drive and that heart, and they didn't show that in the first half," Dean said. "I think that frustrated them a little bit, and it showed in the second half. They came out with more intensity."
East Ridge made a final push for a draw, with one last chance coming from a corner kick, but Hixson averted any danger. Powell finished with six saves, as the Wildcats were outshot by one, 7-6.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.