The DeKalb County High School Tigers soccer team traveled to Loudon, TN, last Tuesday, taking on the Loudon Redskins in the first round of the TSSAA Regional Tournament. It would be a good night for the Tigers, as they claimed the first regional win in team history. Out of 10 DCHS soccer teams that have made it to the regional tournament, this season marks its first time the team has won to advance to the championship game, and a sub-state appearance.

The game was tough going for both teams during the first half, but the Tigers came to life in the second. Cameron Miller found the net with 16 minutes left in the game, with an assist by Miguel Mata. Just four minutes later, it was Yair Mata’s turn, getting a goal with an assist by Brian Balderas.

That would be all it would take. The Tigers’ defense held off Loudon to take the 2-0 region victory. Goalie Luke Jenkins came away with 23 saves in the match.

With the win, the team next traveled to Crossville, TN, where they would face the Cumberland County Jets in the Region 3-AA championship match. The Jets had advanced to the match by beating Anderson County, 6-0.

Cumberland County is considered a powerhouse team and they showed it during the match. The Jets found the net four times in the first half, then added five more in the second. The Tigers had a few opportunities to avoid the shutout, but in the end it was all Cumberland, 9-0.

Despite the loss, the Tigers still advanced to a sub-state game on Saturday, May 22, traveling to Red Bank, outside Chattanooga, to take on the Lions. Once again the game wouldn’t go the way fans had hoped.

The match would go scoreless through the first half, but Red Bank would find the net twice in the second. The Lions would go on to take the 2-0 victory, ending a historic run for the DeKalb soccer team. Overall, the Tigers went 9-9 on the season, marking their first victory in regional play, and their first appearance in the sub-state.