Jaguars stun Rams with two late goals

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

For a majority of Tuesday’s Section 3-3A showdown with Ringgold, the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team struggled to put the ball in the back of the net. 

The Jaguars continuously developed opportunities and peppered Rams goalkeeper Jeremy Mullen with a number of shots to no avail. 

Then, trailing 1-0 in the final minutes of the game, the Jaguars began to reap the benefits of their resilient attack. 

Luke Giger tied the game with 4:09 on the clock and Jack Sella scored the eventual game-winning goal just over two minutes later to help give Thomas Jefferson a 2-1 comeback victory over Ringgold at Joe Montana Stadium. 

“We have been a second half team all season so far,” Thomas Jefferson head coach Doc Kulish said. “When we’re in close games, though, our guys manage to muster up enough energy to where we can get the win. 

“Ringgold is an excellent team and they’re well coached. They played a whole game and I really respect that. Our guys just happened to step it up.” 

Giger’s goal came off a nice setup pass from sophomore Andrew Graham, a junior varsity player who was given the opportunity to play late as many of TJ’s other contributors were starting to experience fatigue late in the game.

Graham delivered a nice cross pass to Giger, who headed the ball toward the top right corner of the goal, beating Mullen to his left. 

Through five games this season, Giger has scored eight goals. He has a goal in each of TJ’s wins. 

“Luke plays his heart out,” Kulish said of the junior forward. “He leaves everything right out on the field.”