Southside boys soccer denies Gray Collegiate another chance at elusive state title
Southside got a pair of goals early in the second half on its way to its first boys soccer state championship.
Erik Martinez scored twice in a two-minute span as Southside defeated Gray Collegiate, 3-0, in the Class 4A state championship Friday at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers won in the program’s first title game appearance.
“It is amazing and something we can’t believe,” Southside coach Luis Kuronya said.
The loss denied Gray Collegiate coach Kevin Heise’s chance at the elusive state championship. Heise, one of the state’s winningest coaches with more than 600 victories, now is 0-7 all-time in state championship appearances.
This was Heise’s fourth championship appearance with Gray and first at the Class 4A level. The War Eagles’ other three appearances came in Class 2A, The War Eagles are moving up to Class 5A next year.
Heise talked last week after the semifinal win over Bishop England about how unexpected this championship match trip was. But the War Eagles got going over the last couple of months.
“Going into the year, if someone would have said we would have been in the state championship, we would have signed up for it,” Heise said. “This group came a long way and kind of galvanized themselves. We were a fun team to watch the last six weeks of the season. But tonight, we just didn’t, and you can credit Southside for that.”
Southside finished 18-1, with its lone loss to Class 3A champion Powdersville.
Both teams won thrilling state semifinal matches to get to the championship. Gray defeated Bishop England in penalty kicks after battling 0-0 in regulation and overtime. The Tigers trailed 2-1 against AC Flora last week before scoring with two minutes left in regulation and then in overtime to win 3-2.
The two teams were tied 0-0 at halftime and Heise said he thought the first five to seven minutes of the second half were critical for his team, especially after not converting on chances in the first half. Instead, it was the Tigers who started fast and took control of the match.
Martinez scored in the 46th minute of the match to put Southside up 1-0.
“Give credit, No. 10 (Martinez) is the best attacking player I have seen all year,” Heise said. “That kid is special and very talented.”
The Spartanburg Methodist signee added another goal two minutes later as he cut through the War Eagles’ defense and drilled a shot on the left side of the net and led a big celebration in front of the Gray fans.
Adriel Rodriguez made it 3-0 with a goal falling down in the 60th minute.
