The Hartselle Tigers soccer team saw their record-setting season come to a close on the road in a 2-0 loss to top-ranked Fort Payne.

The Tigers battled with the Wildcats throughout the entire game. They were in a 0-0 tie with less than 20 minutes remaining. However, Fort Payne scored two late goals, which was the difference in the game.

“The Tigers played us with more intensity than my club has seen all season,” Fort Payne head coach Michael Farmer said. “This game will only help us in the next round.”

Hartselle soccer finished with a school-record 21 victories and a trip to the second round of the playoffs for only the second time in school history.

Nick Vaughn set a school record for shutouts with nine. Owen Bennich netted 31 goals and 13 assists, while Slate Gargus added 12 goals and nine assists.

“This team has been together since they were seven or eight years old,” Hartselle head coach Dan Bennich said. “They have worked hard over the years and have provided a foundation for future teams. This year ended in disappointment, but it was nothing to hang our heads over. We finished the season as area champs and won the Southern Cup along with a runner-up finish in the Morgan County tournament.”