Staff Report

DOBSON — Surry Central’s soccer state playoff hopes came down to pulling numbers out of a hat Friday, after the Golden Eagles fell to Ashe County 1-0.

Central and Ashe finished tied for third place in the conference after the Huskies came up with a game-winning goal by McKenzie Domske in the 71st minute.

With Friday’s tie and the Monday deadline for reporting soccer standings to the state high school athletic association, the playoff hopes of both teams hung on two pieces of paper displaying a “3” and a “4” designating the conference finish of each team.

Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, Ashe picked first and came away with third place, leaving the Eagles quite possibly out in the cold come playoff time.

Central coach Blake Roth said having his team’s season come down to drawing numbers from a hat is hard to swallow.

“They played well over a thousand minutes and it came down to two pieces of paper,” Roth said. “I might feel differently if I came out on the other end, but truthfully these are kids and I hope they don’t feel like they’ve done anything wrong just because we lost the draw.

“I understand the weather has really pushed everyone and the state said they needed all soccer scores in by Monday, but I had to tell four heartbroken seniors tonight that their season might be over because their coach was the unlucky one. That’s tough. My girls worked hard enough this year that they deserve another stab at it and I definitely know my seniors don’t want to end on such a sour note.”

If Central could have pulled off the win it would have secured the third place position and the playoff birth. Roth said his team had several chances to take the game but could not find the back of the net.

The Golden Eagles outshot Ashe 22-9.

“We controlled the possession of the game for the most part and it was ours for the taking,” Roth said. “The entire time we could not beat their keeper. We would either put it just in her grasp or just outside the goal post. When you have three bang off the post in one night, you know luck is not in your favor.”

Roth said he would investigate the possibility of his team picking up a wild card birth, but would not say whether or not he was optimistic or negative on the subject. There are four wild cart spots available in the 2A West bracket.

Surry Central’s final regular season record is 9-11 overall, 7-5 in the MVAC. The Golden Eagles won the first meeting against Ashe County 2-1 in late April.

Forbush won the Mountain Valley 2A title with a perfect 12-0 record. Wilkes Central was second at 10-2.

UPDATE: The N.C. High School Athletic Association posted its playoff brackets on Monday morning. Surry Central did make the 2A field, drawing a wild card berth. The Golden Eagles will visit Wilkes Central in the opening round.