For the first time ever, the Orange men’s soccer team has advanced to the round of 16 in the state playoffs. On Wednesday night, the Panthers defeated Seaforth 4-1 in just the second-ever home state playoff game at Orange Soccer Field. The Panthers scored the opener when Ajali Carter sent a cross into the penalty area that was headed in by senior Carson Condon. It was Condon’s ninth goal of the year. Later in the first half, Dallas Johnson sent a free kick into the box. Following a scramble, sophomore Eddy Gonzalez scored the first goal of his varsity career with a wormburner that rolled into the heart of the net. It turned out to be the game-winning goal. After Seaforth’s Andreas Trinaldo scored off a corner kick assisted by Jacob Wanders off another corner, the Panthers struck twice in the second half of transition opportunities. John Gomez scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season when he fired it into the left side of the net to make it 3-1. After goalkeeper Hector Garrido captured a corner kick by Seaforth, he punted the ball to Yurem Tapia, which triggered a 2-on-1 down the field. Carter was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Tapia converted the penalty kick. Orange has broken the school record with 18 wins this season. They will travel to 4th-seeded Montgomery Central for the third round of the state playoffs on Monday.
