Senior Night proved to be special for both South Sioux City soccer teams in their regular-season finale Friday.
The Lady Cardinals set a season-high scoring standard and the boys showed why they are one of the top 10 teams in the state as both SSC squads shut out their Cardinal counterparts from Crete in action at the Cardinal Complex.
In the girls game, freshman Bailey Johnson found the goal twice and the Lady Cards shared the wealth as five players found the back of the net in a 6-0 shutout, the team's third straight win of the season.
Johnson hit paydirt early in the game and Brianna Herrera followed with a goal midway through the half to make it 2-0. SSC made it 3-0 right before half when Audrey Cardona tickled the nets off a rebound in front of the net.
SSC poured it on in the second half, scoring twice in a two-minute span. Gabriella Sibrian scored on a rebound and Valeria Gonzalez-Hernandez headed home a corner kick before Alexa Seaton closed the scoring five minutes later.
The win was SSC's third in a row, improving to 5-9 on the season. The six goals was a season's best for the team.
In boys action, SSC scored twice early and two more late, outshooting their guests 16-2 as they posted a 4-0 win over Crete.
SSC got on the board in the 12th minute when Josue Magana headed in a free kick from the top of the penalty area. Not more than a minute later, senior Charly Perez beat the keeper with a low shot to make it 2-0.
Crete had just two shots on the night, both coming in the second half. A high ball in the left corner was punched away by keeper Angel Olivarez, and the senior made another big stop nine minutes later on a free kick that came on a questionable handball call.
SSC had plenty of quality chances late and finally cashed in two more. Perez hit his second of the night from the left side in the 77th minute, and Xzavian Ponce rocketed home the finale a minute later as the Class A No. 5 (Omaha World-Herald) Cardinals improved to 11-3 on the season.
Both teams play in the River Cities Conference tournament that starts on Monday, the final tuneup before district play the following week.
Complete coverage in next week's Dakota County Star.
