Black Diamonds suffer road district losses to Poteau
Boys match ends in altercation
POTEAU — It was a rough night for the Sallisaw High School soccer teams as they lost both road district matches to the host Poteau Pirates and Lady Pirates on Thursday night at Costner Stadium.
The Black Diamonds lost 3-2 in the most heartbreaking of ways as the Pirates (5-6 overall, 3-1 in District 4A-4 play) broke a 2-all tie with a goal with about 30 seconds left in regulation.
The Black Diamonds (9-1, 3-1) got their two goals from Wes Rodriguez, one on a penalty kick and the other from an assist from Rustyn Romero. Goalkeeper Josh Taylor made 12 saves.
“It was a tough loss for us,” Sallisaw coach Sinue Rodriguez said. “We just have to stay the course. Our job wasn’t to be perfect. We try to be, but it’s just a loss.”
However, with about 10 seconds left in the match, an altercation broke out between the two teams.
“It’s not what anybody desired,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t want it for our kids and our fans. I hate that it happened, but we’ll learn from it. We have to move on.”
The Black Diamonds still are in control of their own destiny. If they won Tuesday night’s home regular-season finale against Hilldale or the road match against Wagoner at 7 p.m. Friday, they will still be district champions.
“If we beat Hilldale, we still have a chance to be district champs,” Rodriguez said. “Wagoner is on Friday. If we win those two games, or at least one of them, we’ll try to be the district champions. If we don’t win them both, I think we’ll finish second. That would still give us a home playoff game. If we get district champions, we’ll get two home (playoff) games. That’s our goal, and it’s still attainable. We just need to stay the course. The playoffs is what matters.”
In the girls’ match, the lone goal for the Lady Diamonds (5-5, 1-3) came off the foot of Laynie Gerred from an assist from Kyra Taylor. Jocelyn Rivera had 10 saves. The loss eliminated the Lady Diamonds from postseason consideration. “That loss eliminated them, so we’re just going to battle to the end and make the most out of it.” This week will conclude the season for the Lady Diamonds. After they played their home regular-season finale against Hilldale on Tuesday night at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium, they will play their final regular season match at 5 p.m. Friday at Wagoner.
