Southside boys soccer coach Jorge Picaso Garcia thought his team played a near flawless first half Tuesday against Catholic.

But when the Rockets’ Jack Nolen made a shot past Southside goalie Salomon Amador, the Mavs lost the grip on their momentum and, in a flash, the Rockets built an insurmountable lead that carried them to a 4-1 triumph at Jim Rowland Stadium.

Catholic (4-3-1, 2-2) scored all four of its goals in a span of 25½ minutes.

Junior Chris Orellana gave the Mavericks (2-8, 1-4) a 1-0 lead in the first half.

“I all of our players, the momentum of passing the ball was big,” Garcia said. “Everybody was looking to pass the ball in the gaps. The ball was flowing; everybody was playing really good.

“Nobody really seemed tired, and in the second half I felt like a lot of players got tired from running.”

The Rockets tied the game at 1-all on Nolen’s goal at the 33:21 mark.

Amador had two nifty saves at the 29:36 and 28:44 mark of the second half, respectively, but Southside was unable to clear the ball.

“He (Amador) kept us in the game there,” Garcia said. “But he can’t stop all of them.”


Nolen’s goal was a back-breaker, Garcia said.

“Our players up to that point were playing really good,” Garcia said. “I think that goal that tied it up was a big momentum swing. They (Southside) kind of beat themselves up a little, and that’s something we’ve had trouble with during the season.”

Nolen snapped the 1-1 tie at the 25:40 mark, and Brett Haley intercepted a pass on Southside’s end and took off toward the Mavericks’ goal. Tyler Mackenzie set up Haley with a pretty feed and a 3-1 lead at the 17:11 mark of the second half.

The Mavericks have but two shots on goal in the final 40 minutes.

?(But) we’re getting as each games goes along,“Garcia said. “The next game, I feel like these guys are going to step it up.”

John Leake added the Rockets’ final goal with 8:35 left to play.

Southside 3, Mount St. Mary 0


GIRLS — The Southside Mavericks beat Mount St. Mary for its fifth straight 7A-Central victory without a loss. The Mavericks have Central (Friday) and Northside next week to conclude the first half of league play.

Hannah Schmidt’s nice cross-over gave the Mavericks (8-4, 5-0) an early 1-0 lead just 2½ minutes in.

Kelly Carson’s 14th and 15th goals of the season provided some key insurance. Carson’s breakaway goal at the 18:42 mark of the second half made it 2-0, and she scored again with 9:17 left.
