Area title within grasp for first-year RHS boys soccer
By Kim West for the FCT
The first-year Russellville boys soccer team is three victories away from winning the Class 4A-5A, Area 16 championship after clinching a playoff berth with Friday’s 8-0 victory at West Limestone.
The eighth-ranked Golden Tigers (13-3 overall, 5-0 area) are in the driver’s seat in the area race with three league games remaining: 5:30 p.m. Thursday at East Limestone (3-5-3); 7:15 p.m. Friday at Ardmore (2-7, 1-3); and 7:15 p.m. Monday in a home rematch with East.
After opening Week 8 with a 3-1 loss at 6A Florence (11-4-3), Russellville rebounded with a pair of lopsided victories in area play. The Golden Tigers downed Danville 10-0 Thursday and defending area champion West Limestone 8-0 Friday.
Against Danville, Andy Alonso produced a personal-best four goals, and Marvin Betancourt notched his fifth hat trick. Andy Alvarez, Daniel Carranza and David Baltazar scored a goal apiece.
In the West Limestone win, Alonso lit up the scoreboard again with four goals for his second straight hat trick. Betancourt, who knocked in the Golden Tigers’ only goal against Florence, added two goals against West, while Carranza and Cedrick Mojica each scored once.
In 16 games, Russellville has produced seven clean sheets and a goal differential of 92 goals scored and 13 goals allowed. Betancourt leads the way with 29 goals, followed by Alonso (24), Carranza (9), Mojica (6) and Jorge Bahena (6).
The Russellville girls (1-12, 1-5) recorded tough area losses to Danville, 2-0, and West Limestone, 3-0, in Week 8.
The sub-state playoffs for 4A-5A are scheduled for April 27-29, followed by the second round in the first week of May. The state Final Four tournament is May 11-13 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.
