The game intensified in the second half as Dawsey scored his second goal with around 20 minutes remaining. A foul by the T-Breds shortly after resulted in a free kick for the Hornets from about 25 yards away. Raintree and Negrete positioned themselves on either side of the ball, with Negrete clearing a path for Raintree to kick it into the top-right corner of the net. The goal proved to be decisive, despite South Aiken’s late charge.
South Aiken’s head coach, Brad Reinhart, praised his team’s effort and attitude during the game, acknowledging that they were up against skilled players who made critical plays. Reinhart emphasized the importance of staying together as a team regardless of the situation – whether leading, tied, or trailing. He expressed disappointment over the loss but maintained confidence in his team’s ability to recover and perform well in their remaining matches.
Reinhart commended his players for holding themselves and their teammates accountable throughout the game, no matter what score they were behind or ahead of. He highlighted the importance of unity and working together as a team – winning, losing, and facing challenges together.
The T-Breds are currently third in the region standings with one match left against North Augusta. Meanwhile, Aiken has games against Midland Valley and Airport next week that could help them secure the No. 2 seed if they perform well on their travels.
In conclusion, while South Aiken lost this particular game, it was clear that their coach had instilled in them an important lesson: that unity and teamwork would serve them well both on and off the field. As they continue to compete in upcoming games, they will undoubtedly draw strength from this experience and emerge stronger as a result.
