On Tuesday, May 31, the Boys Varsity Soccer Team achieved something no other team in the program’s history has achieved. They advanced to the VHSL Regional Postseason Semi-finals with a quarter-final win over Martinsville. The win came after a thrilling 3-3 tie in regulation. After no goals were scored in 4 overtime periods, the contest was decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Peyton Cambron, senior goalkeeper, shut out all 3 Martinsville penalty attempts. Reyli Martinez-Tejeda scored the decisive 4th point to spark wild celebrations amongst the entire team.
“I was really calm going into the shootout. After I made the first save, I knew we were going to win. As a senior, it feels great to be a part of a team that wrote a new history for PCHS,” said Cambron after the match.
Austin Hylton, a junior forward added, “This result means a lot- to be the first team to do something different.”
Cambron also spoke to the improvement he has seen in the team this year noting,
“It was great to see the team bounce back after going down 3-2 in regulation. Last year we would have folded, but we overcame that diversity and achieved our target.”
Head Coach Oscar Tejeda described the historic night.
“If there is one word I could use, it would be progress. A pride filled moment would be that we have beaten everyone on the schedule we have played in our history and now advanced farther than we ever have.”
With the win coming at home against local rival Martinsville, the program is heading in the right direction. Even though they fell short to Glenvar in the semi-finals, the team will look to go another step forward and qualify for its first ever state tournament appearance next year. With a change in districts on the horizon next season, anything could be possible. History was made last week, but maybe it’s only just the beginning for these athletes.
