By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils pulled off a doubleheader sweep of crosstown rival North Pulaski on the soccer pitch Monday night in a non-conference matchup. The games were played through a driving rainstorm which eventually turned into a thunderstorm in the second half of the boys game, causing an early stoppage to the contest with the Red Devils leading 5-0.
The two Jacksonville victories completed a four-game season sweep against North Pulaski, avenging the Falcon sweep of Jacksonville last season.
The Lady Red Devils got four goals from senior Jessica Beaver to down the Lady Falcons 4-0 in the first game of the night.
“Jessica played a great game,” Jacksonville boys and girls coach Bill Vasquez said. “We played pretty well. The conditions were difficult for both teams but we came through with a few plays and got the win.”
The Lady Red Devils scored twice in the first half on corner kicks. In the second half, one direct kick early in the second half made it 3-0. The final goal came from a nice series of passes down the field that culminated in Beaver scoring from just outside the box to set the final margin.
The Jacksonville boys spread the wealth around a bit more than the girls. Four Red Devils teamed up to score the fifth goal, with only Alex Krick getting multiple goals in the game. Manuel Alvadrez scored in his first game back after missing the previous match against Cabot. Brandon Klar and Lamar Perry also scored one goal apiece to pace the Red Devils.
“The guys did a real good job too,” Vazquez said. “The teamwork was nice, they played together well.”
The win gives the Jacksonville boys a 6-3 overall and a 2-1 conference record while the girls improve to 4-5 overall and stand 1-2 in league play.
Jacksonville is off for two weeks until a conference matchup with Cabot on April 4.
The North Pulaski boys fall to 2-9 overall, but are still in the AAAA-Southeast conference race at 2-1. The NP ladies are 5-6 overall and 1-1 in their conference race.
The Falcons and Lady Falcons also take two weeks off before getting back to league play on April 5 on the road at Greene County Tech.
