Bob Jones girls and boys soccer teams advance in playoffs

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

HUNTSVILLE — Charissa Roth hesitated when Bob Jones girls soccer coach Luke Oakley asked her if she wanted to take goalkeeping duties as a Class 7A playoff game moved past overtime and into the penalty kick phase.

Roth has practiced the position, but she has not seen game action in goal since last season’s playoffs.

She accepted the challenge and knocked away one of five Grissom PKs. That was enough to give Bob Jones a 5-4 advantage in PKs and a 3-2 win Tuesday night to advance to the second round.

“It’s very nerve-wracking,’’ Roth said. “When coach asked me if I wanted to do it I had to take a minute and think about it. I knew I’d regret it if I said anything else.’’

The game was tied at 2-all after regulation and the end of two five-minute overtime periods.

Bob Jones (16-6-1) will host Oak Mountain at a TBD Saturday at Madison City Schools Stadium.

Meanwhile in Madison, Bob Jones’ boys edged Huntsville 2-1 behind two goals from Jay Herron. The Patriots will travel to Vestavia Hills (15-4-2) for the next round. The Rebels defeated the Patriots 2-1 earlier this season.

“We have to be mentally prepared,’’ Bob Jones’ Deivi Bucio said. “We have to be confident we can beat anybody in the state, and in my opinion we can.’’

Before the girls game at Grissom, the Tigers defeated James Clemens 5-1 in boys action.

Bob Jones’ girls got two goals from freshman Jessica Glassman, one in each half with the first assisted by Mudiare Ikoba, for a 2-0 lead before the Tigers rallied.

Patriots goalkeeper Taylor Felts had eight saves in regulation and overtime. Grissom’s Ashtyn Owen had seven saves.

Making PK kicks for Bob Jones were Emily Franklin, Glassman, Hannah Ernst, Ikoba and Amina Downey.