Starting in goal for the first since suffering a concussion five weeks ago, East Hamilton senior keeper Zac Thomas used laser-focused concentration and the spider-like reflexes of a man walking a high wire 100 stories up as the Hurricanes hosted Cookeville in the Region 3-AAA soccer championship match Thursday.
After surrendering a goal on an impossible chance one minute into the contest, Thomas became a dominant force, turning away repeated shots and leaving the door open for his teammates to generate a response.
In a three-minute span during the first half, the Hurricanes knocked the Cavaliers on their heels and provided the offensive firepower that Thomas and the backfield made stand up in 2-1 victory.
“This is a huge win for the guys,” said East Hamilton coach Patrick Daverson. “They lost to Cookeville in the region finals up there last year. And to come back against them the way they did and to get a leg up in the sections is kind of nice. We got the goals when we needed them and we made it stand up.”
In the first 24 minutes of the first half, East Hamilton (9-5-1) had just one shot on goal before Cooper Loftin launched a direct-kick missile from midfield and on net. Teammate Caleb Takrouri found the loose ball on the doorstep and equalized the match.