‘We just made history’: Last-minute heroics from Pardo, Vega snag Greer soccer win over Eastside
Tomas Vega had two key assists in Greer’s 3-2 win over Eastside.
The streak…is over.
In one of the most chaotic soccer matches of the season, Greer earned a 3-2 win over Eastside at Dooley Field—Greer’s first win over Eastside in program history.
According to the earliest available records, Eastside was 21-0 against Greer before Tuesday night’s clash.
“Tonight is incredible,” said Greer head coach Nick Roberson. “This win falls on the leaders within this team. These guys have been bought in since day one on what we’re trying to do. Tonight, it really paid off.”
A match that was surprisingly tame—and goalless—in the first half erupted in the second.
Eastside’s Andrey Echeverry opened the game’s scoring in the 50th minute with a strike from the top of the box. Not even two minutes later, however, Greer’s Chris Cruz tapped home the equalizer off a corner.
The Eagles found a second goal in the 66th minute when Tristan Nixon headed home a corner kick into the top right corner of the net.
Nixon’s goal looked poised to be the winner—until the 75th minute.
With just five minutes left to go, Greer earned a free kick on the left edge of Eastside’s penalty box. Tomas Vega whipped the ball in and found the head of Dylan LaPlace. LaPlace’s header was soft and aimed directly at the ground.
Eastside’s goalkeeper went to pick up the ball bouncing slowly towards him.
Somehow, the ball slipped through his legs and into the back of the net.
“I had already turned around and started running back,” said LaPlace. “Then I heard my teammates cheering, and I realized it had gone in.”
Eastside stormed back and attempted to find the winning goal in the final minutes, but after an Eagle free kick was cleared down toward the other side of the field, Greer got one last chance on goal with just seconds to play.
Vega collected the clearance and beat his defender down the left side of the field.
“I saw the ball get cleared, and I used my body to shield off the defender,” said Vega. “I heard [Alejandro] Motta calling my name inside of the box, wanting the pass. I didn’t even see him, I just heard him.”
Vega grounded a cross into the box that found Motta, but the senior captain’s shot was blocked.
The rebound fell right to the feet of freshman Isaac Pardo. He made no mistake.
From eight yards out, Pardo calmly ripped the ball over the keeper’s head and into the roof of the net.
In the 80th and final minute, Pardo secured Greer’s unprecedented win.
Greer’s entire team ran to the stands screaming, hugging, and celebrating with Pardo.
“It’s amazing. It’s still setting in,” said Pardo after the game. “We just made history. We’re a part of history forever.”
Pardo’s game-winner was just his second goal of the year.
“I’ve been struggling to score all season,” said Pardo. “I started off rocky. To finally finish one and it be a game-winner, it feels amazing.”
The Jackets started off the season by losing seven of their first eight. But according to Vega, a team meeting after a 6-3 loss to Berea on April 1 things shifted for the better.
“We all sat down, coaches and players, and we were honest with each other,” said Vega. “We felt so much pressure to win that we forgot to simply play the game we love with passion. We weren’t enjoying it. Now we are.
“Winning is good, but if you’re not enjoying the game, you’re not going to win.”
Greer will need all of the wins it can muster heading into the final stretch of region play. The Jackets sit at 2-3 in Region 2-4A. That’s good for third place and, at the moment, the region’s final playoff spot.
But in a region as stacked as Greer’s, Roberson knows there’s more work to do.
“I told the boys in the locker room that I want them to enjoy the heck out of this win. Take it in,” said Roberson. “But if we really want to solidify our place in the playoffs, let’s be ready to get back to work. The job’s not finished.”
GAME RECAP
Eastside 0 2 - 2
Greer 0 3 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY
50’ | EASTSIDE - Andrey Echeverry (assisted by Ryder Martin)
52’ | GREER - Chris Cruz (assisted by Alejandro Motta)
66’ | EASTSIDE - Tristan Nixon (assisted by Andrey Echeverry)
75’ | GREER - Dylan LaPlace (assisted by Tomas Vega)
80’ | GREER - Issac Pardo