By Russ Gordon

After defeating 7A Austin by a score of 5-2 in the Morgan County Tournament only three days earlier, the Black Bears brought their A-game to Groover Field this past Tuesday and were able to contain the Tigers to end the game in a 2-2 tie.

Austin struck first 15 minutes into the game to lead 1-0. Adding insult to injury and thinking they had a chance to win the game, the Bears scored again just six minutes later. The Tigers rose to the challenge and Ethan Medendorp scored on an assist from Owen Bennech with 17:38 on the first half clock. Two minutes later Bennech had a chance to tie the game with a penalty kick but the Austin goalkeeper made a great diving save. Finally, Medendorp scored a goal off a throw in (assist) from Hunter Lawrence with 43 seconds left. The score was tied at 2-2 going into the half.

Jack Adams had a chance to score the winning goal 12 minutes into the second half on a free kick but the Austin goalie made another good save. The game ended in a tie bringing the Tigers season record to 5-3-1. The home game scheduled against Gardendale for Friday was rained out. A rested Tiger team begins a 9-game road schedule with games at Muscle Shoals on Mar. 5 and Mortimer Jordan on Mar. 7.

JV boys

Hartselle 4, Austin 3

The future of boys soccer at HHS is looking brighter with every passing game. The Junior Tigers climbed to 5-0 on the season with a win over Austin Tuesday afternoon. A goal by Warren Peyton accounted for the Tiger lead of 1-0 at the half. Michael Sumner’s goal and good defense resulted in a 2-0 lead 13 minutes into the second period. But Austin answered with two of their own goals to tie the game with only 15 minutes left to play. Peyton scored his brace point with ten minutes remaining to take a 3-2 lead, but Austin again tied the score with 4:55 on the clock. At 3:47 an Austin foul inside the penalty box led to a PK game-winner by Rhett Spivey for the JV Tigers.

They play at Muscle Shoals March 5 then in a tournament in Oxford on Friday and Saturday Mar. 8-9. The first game is at 4 p.m. against Ft. Payne.