TARBORO —
Losing doesn't happen often at home for the Tarboro Vikings soccer team, but the North Pitt Panthers made sure it was going to happen Wednesday night when the two teams met in an Eastern Plains Conference match. The Panthers shutout the Vikings 1-0.
"I thought we played tough in some areas but we didn't make good decisions with the ball," Vikings head coach Leshaun Jenkins said. "We played a little inconsistent."
This was Tarboro's first big test of the season. Jenkins wasn't disappointed in the loss. He wasn't pleased with some of the play from some some of his players. He said it was the little things he was looking for that he knows his team needs to work on.
North Pitt controlled the match during the first half and kept the ball on their offensive end of the field the majority of the half. The Panthers took 17 shots on goal during the first half, but none was bigger then the one that got by Vikings goalie Travis Martin. He had 17 saves in the match.
In the 18th minute of the match, Freddie Jimenez got by a Viking defender on the left side of the field on served the ball up in the middle of the penalty box and Octavio Alonzo got a head on the ball to score and put the Panthers up 1-0.
"It was a lot of physical play going on when they scored their goal," Jenkins said. "They scored and did what they had to do win."
Tarboro took only two shots in the first half, while their defense was trying to contain the Panthers offense from scoring again.
With four minutes left before halftime, Tarboro had an opportunity to score, but North Pitt's defense cleared the ball and stopped the break way.
During halftime, Jenkins told his team that they needed to fix what ever the problem was so they could stay in the game and get their offense going.
"When we play we need to give our best effort and if I don't think it is our best effort then I am going to get on them," Jenkins said. "I got on their case during halftime and that is just how Tarboro soccer goes. We don't lose very often at home and I was hoping this wasn't going to be one of those nights during halftime."
In the second half, Tarboro came out and played with more intensity and aggression. They began to control the tempo and push the ball on the Panthers defense, but just couldn't find the timely pass to get past the defenders.
With six minutes left in the match, North Pitt dropped all of their players back on defense except for two and tried to contain the Vikings offense. Tarboro had five chances to score within a two minute span, but just couldn't convert.
"We play 80 minutes and may execute on a play in the match and then again you may not execute that is just part of the game," Jenkins said. "Getting all of those shots is good and not scoring is fine that is going to happen it is about having poise and being in the right position to finish and score goals. It is disappointing because we could have tied the game but the bottom line for us is we lost and we played gritty."
North Pitt outshot the Vikings 26-12 in the match.
"We have to improve so the next time we step on the field we will be better," Jenkins said. "We have to come to practice and work hard like have since June."
Jenkins said he has to do his job and reenergize his players.
"They have to feel like they have lost a game and not the super bowl," Jenkins said. "At this point my guys have done some really good things so far. I will talk to them at practice and make them feel like they have won the game. That is just how I am as a coach."
Jenkins is hoping that the next time his team steps on the field the have the confidence to do what they didn't do against the Panthers. He wants his team just to finish the game off and come out victorious.
Tarboro will be back in action Monday when they travel to play Farmville Central at 7 p.m.
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Related Photos
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Tarboro Viking Andy Ramirez tries to gain control of the ball while North Pitt Panther Freddie Jimenez defends him during the first half of action Wednesday at Indian Lake Sports Complex.
Panthers knock off Vikings
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