With their only loss in region play coming from Cairo in a narrow one-point match, the Worth County Rams soccer program needed to beat Americus-Sumter on Friday, March 22, to clinch a first or second place spot in the region tournament. But in another close region battle, the Worth boys came up just short, losing to the Panthers by the same final score as the Syrupmakers, 2-1.
Then last Tuesday, the teams returned home for a non-region game against the Crisp Cougars. While the boys were ahead, 2-1, at the half, Worth goal tender Aaron Sinclair sustained a serious head injury when he collided with the goal post and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. Worth Head Coach Colby Simpson said he was on the field helping his injured player. When he returned to the bench, his team was rallying around their fallen teammate.
The coach recalls, “Aaron always sacrifices; he always gives 100%. And, they turned it up and ended up scoring four more goals in the second half.”
In the end, Worth was victorious, 6-2, over the Cougars, and Simpson says his goal keeper is okay after suffering a bump and a bruise. He should be fine by the time the tournament begins.
After playing Crisp last Tuesday, the Worth soccer teams began a long break leading up to the region tournament on April 14. On Monday, April 8, the Lee County Trojans will visit Milt Miller Field for a non-region game. Then on Thursday, April 11, Worth will travel to Thomas County Central to take on the Yellow Jackets in the final game of the regular season.
These games will offer tough competition for the Rams before the 1-AAAA tournament begins on April 14. But with his team locked into third place as the post season games begin, Coach Simpson says he is mostly focused on improving in these last two regular season matches. Of course winning these last two games would be great for the team’s morale, but Simpson says the games will mostly serve as good practice opportunities heading into post season play.
The tournament will begin on the 14th with Worth hosting the Monroe Tornadoes. After defeating Monroe, Coach Simpson predicts his team will face Americus again. The winner of this game will most likely play Cairo for the region title.
“We could end up first in the region,” the coach says. “Or, we could end up last in the region. It really depends on how we play. We’ve lost by one point to Cairo and one point to Americus, and truthfully, I know we can beat Americus… I definitely see us competing for the region championship.”
As for the Lady Rams, Coach Simpson says the “girls are starting to click” late in the season. Against the Lady Panthers, the Worth girls delivered a lights-out performance by shutting down Americus, 10-0. The girls tied Crisp last Tuesday, 2-2.
According to the coach, “We have found some offensive power. And, they’re all starting to move the ball around really well, and they’re starting to look like a soccer program.”
The girls finished region play during the regular season ranked fourth. The team and location for their first game in the region tournament has not yet been determined.
