Cyclones fall to Portland in exciting soccer match
Published 12:02 pm Thursday, March 21, 2024
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones' Jackson Miller (12) deflects a shot on goal midway through the first half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders A penalty kick by Portland's Deacon Tuttle (10) just gets under a diving Tucker Taylor (84) to tie the score at 1-1 with just under 11 minutes left in the first half.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones Conner Blevins (9) battles for the ball, down the sideline, against Portland’s Brayden Rush (22) early in the second half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones' Conner Blevins (9) battles for the ball down the sideline against Portland's Brayden Rush (22) early in the second half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones' Thomas Lambert (8) looks to pass on an inbounds play to Will Churchill (11) early in the second half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones' Luke Whaley (17) and Portland's Bryson Hill (24) both elevate trying to put a header on a long pass midway through the second half.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders A penalty kick by the Cyclones' Tylar Jenkins (4) is Elizabethton's only real shot on goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Unfortunately, the ball sailed over the crossbar, leaving the score still 2-1 Panthers.
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones' Jonathan Espinoza (1) and Portland's Bralyn Fitts (1) both look to control a long pass late in the second half.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
On Wednesday the Elizabethton Cyclones soccer team entertained the Portland Panthers who were completing a three game tour of East Tennessee at Citizens Bank Stadium. The Cyclones scored first on a free kick from Tylar Jenkins in the 19th minute of play but the Panthers rallied for a 2-1 victory.
Jenkins boot was the only shot EHS had directly on goal in a defensive struggle and the Cyclones held Portland to just four shots on goal. The play was mostly in the middle of the field with neither team able to apply consistent pressure on the other’s goalkeeper.
In the 30th minute the Panthers got the equalizer on a free kick from 20 yards out with senior Deacon Tuttle firing a low blast past Cyclones keeper Tucker Taylor.
The Cyclones showed a bit of frustration at times firing several long passes from midfield to open runners only to have the pass have too much pace and found no receiver for a shot on goal.
“We need to be more patient and work on our ball movement,” Cyclones head coach Doug Schultz said. “We need to work the ball into the last third of the field to get more shots on goal. We tend to be rushed. We work the ball well in the back end and in the midfield then we get up top and were ready to go.”
Early in the second half a defensive lapse allowed Panthers junior Brayan Figueroa to take possession just outside the penalty area and fire a shot that struck net and gave Portland a 2-1 advantage.
Figueroa scored in the 42nd minute and would be the last goal scored though EHS had a last chance late when Drake Teague had a free kick from the 12 yard line that he fired over the crossbar.
The Cyclones had two good scoring chances on corner kicks in the second half with Portland able to block the shots in front of goalkeeper Tristan Olsen.
“The problem with us is the majority of our goals to this point have come off free kicks,” Schultz said. “It’s a maturity thing that I have noticed.”
Citizens Bank Stadium
Portland 2-1
Portland 1 1 – 2
Elizabethton 1 0 – 1
Scoring Summary
First Half
E – Jenkins (unassisted) 19:00
P – Tuttle (unassisted) 30:00
Second Half
P – Figueroa (unassisted) 42:00
