Morgan County’s soccer teams performed well last week, winning both of their first-round games.
With their victories, they are now advancing to the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs.
The No. 1 seed Dogs faced off against the No. 32 seed East Jackson in the first round, winning 3-1 to advance.
The Morgan boys led 2-0 at halftime after scoring on a Carson Keener corner kick and adding another goal when the Ealge keeper mishandled a shot. They had all the momentum heading into the second half of the match.
East Jackson narrowed the score to 2-1 a few minutes into the second half, but Morgan County’s Julian Tenorio answered midway through. The senior midfielder netted a shot past the opponent’s keeper, extending the lead to two goals. The Dogs then buckled down, as goalkeeper Blake Downs made several saves.
Morgan County (13-3) will next host region rival Jackson (12-4) on May 1, a team it split with during the regular season. The Dogs defeated the Red Devils 1-0 on the road, then lost to them by the same score at home.
The No. 7 seed Lady Dogs hosted No. 26 Miller Grove in the first round, winning decisively with a 10-0 victory.
Morgan County had several players score in the lopsided win over the Lady Wolverines, who never stood a chance. The Lady Dogs dominated all game, with strong performances from Mia McClain and Chloe Cook.
Morgan County, which is dealing with several injuries, controlled the tempo and pace of the match. The team rested a few starters in the first round and hopes to be fully healthy for their second-round match.
The Lady Dogs (11-5) will host No. 23 seed Murray County (9-9) on May 1 for a chance to advance.