CLEVELAND, Tenn. - One of Tommy Marino's goals for the 2017 soccer season was to score a hat trick. Yet over the course of the last two weeks, the Cleveland High School senior was struggling to net one goal, let alone three.
Until Saturday, when his three goals gave the Blue Raiders a 3-1 Class AAA sectional win over Oakland at the Greater Cleveland Soccer Complex.
Marino scored in the first half and broke a 1-1 tie with under five minutes remaining in the game. He added a third in the final moments, and third-ranked Cleveland advanced to its first state tournament since 2009.
The Blue Raiders (21-0-2) came out sluggish after the emotions exerted in Thursday's region championship victory.
"We came out flat and (the Patriots) knock the ball around really well," Cleveland coach John Brose said. "I think the first goal gave us a lift, but once they got their equalizer I felt our heads went down."
That first goal came on a nicely slotted pass from Brian Ordonez to Marino, who touched the ball past the goalkeeper with his left foot in the 24th minute. That lead was able to hold up for about seven minutes, when talented Oakland sophomore Garrett Taylor beat a defender around the corner and crossed the ball into Muhammah Kanakrieh, who tapped it in for the tying goal.
The Patriots (12-5-3) continued to apply pressure in the second half, missing on a couple of close attempts as the Cleveland defense continued to hold its own. The Blue Raiders would get stops and quickly kick the ball forward, trying to get the ball to Marino and Jordan Lopez on counterattacks, but the two were unable to penetrate deep into the Oakland backfield.
Marino broke the tie when he jumped on a bad pass and punched the ball past the keeper for the 2-1 edge.
"I guess I was getting the bad shots out of the way, just waiting for this moment," Marino said. "When I scored to put us ahead, I can't even say the emotions that overwhelmed me - not just me but the team, the fans. This will go to the school and the coaches as well."
The Raiders will find out their first-round state opponent today when the TSSAA releases its Class AAA brackets.
"Earlier in the season, we felt we peaked," Marino said. "These last two games we've really pushed it; the guys have held it down on defense and we've been able to put it away.
"I think we're ready for state; hopefully this run will carry on for the last few games."