CHS forward Breyer Taylor strikes a free kick against Columbia on Friday night
If a team is to be remembered by how they close out their season, then the 2015 Red Raider soccer team of Coffee County Central High should be remembered as a band of tenacious and talented gentlemen who gave it their all on the pitch on Tuesday night at Oakland. The Raiders battled through 80 minutes of regulation, and 20 minutes of overtime against an undefeated Oakland squad, only to see a header sail just over the outstretched hands of Raider keeper Lafredo Ramirez and give Oakland a 2 to 1 win. Even at nil at the half, Coffee County opened the 2nd half in attack mode and were rewarded with a Breyer Taylor goal in the 49th minute. The goal by Taylor was his 20th of the season giving him the single season record for goals by a Red Raider player. Oakland battled back and knotted the score 4 minutes later off of a corner kick. Each team fielded scoring chances in the final 27 minutes, to send the match to a 20 minute overtime period. During the first 10 minutes, Coffee County failed to convert 3 excellent scoring opportunities, 2 by Ernesto Gomez and a shot wide of goal by Taylor. Oakland pushed the attack in the 2nd 10 minutes driving a shot off the crossbar in the 94th minute, before finding the back of the net in the 96th minute on a header off a long throw-in. The goal was initially waved off by the line judge, but after consultation with the referee, the goal was allowed. Oakland dropped all 11 players deep in the final 4 minutes and the stunned Raiders battled to the final whistle, but could not drive home the equalizer. With the loss, the Raider season came to a close marking the end for the 7 CHS seniors: Lafredo Ramirez, Abelen Barrera, Cole Hawkins, Max Nicoll, Krishna Patel, Scott Randolph and Cody Howes; and 2 exchange students: Ernesto Gomez and Sergio Iriondo.
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2015 CHS Soccer seniors
