The Spalding Jaguars soccer team played well enough to win Tuesday night, defeating the LaGrange High Grangers 3-0 in the regular-season finale for Spalding at Memorial Stadium.

What’s even better is the Jags (12-4-1 overall) didn’t suffer any injuries and the younger players were able to get some playing time in the second half.

“I’m glad we came out of that match unscathed,” said Jags head coach Scott Henderson. “I’m glad we got the win and we got some time for the young guys. Now it’s time to prepare for the state playoffs.”

Spalding, the No. 2 seed in Region 4-AAA, will probably host Westside-Augusta on Thursday, May 3 at Memorial Stadium, according to Henderson. Game time is not yet known.

On Tuesday, Brandon “Cornbread” Thomas got the party started for Spalding early in the first half with a goal to give the Jags a 1-0 lead. Jake Mathis and Kent Hinton helped Thomas get in position for the goal.

Jake Jeffcoat then scored another goal with five minutes remaining in the half, on an assist from Jamey Lawrence, and Spalding took the 2-0 lead into the half. Neither team could score for awhile in the second half, but both teams had their chances. LaGrange had a good shot at the 11:25 mark but it went wide. Lawrence, a senior, had a great opportunity to score for Spalding two minutes later.

Lawrence was open with the ball and looked to dribble and shoot but the LaGrange keeper slid into him, trying to kick the ball away from him. Lawrence somehow kept the ball and looked to shoot, but a LaGrange player came out of nowhere and booted the ball out of bounds. On the ensuing Spalding throw-in from William Thomas, senior Harrison Turner collected the ball, made a move and sent a wicked shot past the Grangers keeper and into the net at the 9:26 mark for the 3-0 final margin.

“Despite the fact that I missed my chance to score, we got the win and I’m happy about that,” said Lawrence. “We’re ready for state.”

Spalding had 7 shots, 5 on goal while LaGrange had 6 shots and 1 on goal in the contest.

SPALDING HIGH BOYS

Date |Opponent |Time

2/14 |Luella |W 3-1

2/16 |@ Pike Co. |W 2-0

2/28 |Newnan |L 2-1

3/2 |@ L. Grove* |W 8-0

3/9 |Bulldog Cup-Perry |W 2-1

3/10 |Bulldog Cup-MPHS |L 6-0

3/10 |Bulldog Cup-FPD |L 2-0

3/13 |Stockbridge* |W 4-0

3/16 |Henry Co.* |W 2-1

3/23 |E. Landing* |W 4-1

3/29 |@ Eastside* |W 6-0

4/6 |@ Griffin |W 4-0

4/10 |Alcovy |T 1-1

4/13 |@ Drew* |W 2-0

4/17 |Sandy Creek* |L 2-1

4/20 |@ Jackson* |W 2-0

4/24 |LaGrange |W 3-0

5/3 |State |tba