soccer ball

LINDALE — The Jacksonville Indians’ season is still alive with a 2-1 comeback win over Hallsville in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal soccer clash at Eagle Stadium on Tuesday.

Jacksonville (18-7-2) will next play the winner of Frisco Centennial-Wylie East at the regional tournament at 7 p.m. Friday at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.

Hallsville ended its season 17-8-3 after placing third in District 15-5A.

The first half was a defensive standoff, with each team rarely testing the backline. Both teams had four shots on goal combined in the opening half and the Bobcats had three corner kicks early on that went for naught.

Jacksonville had three shots on goal in the opening half (Cesar Guerrero and two from Alex Sandoval) and one big opportunity on a cross wide left in the 36th minute.

Hallsville’s one shot on goal paid off as Jamil Young redirected an Andrew Southard in-bounds pass with a header into the back of the net in the 47th-minute for 1-0 lead.

In the 46th minute, the Tribe missed another scoring chance when Sandoval went one-on-one with the Bobcat goalie, cranking a shot from 15-feet. Hallsville’s Mason Neally was up to the test with the stop to keep the score at 1-0.

In the 69th minute, Jacksonville tied the game as Ander Lopez spotted Allan Lopez at the top of the 18-yard box. Allan Lopez settled the pass and blasted the equalizer.

Jacksonville took the lead in the 73rd minute as Allan Lopez once again settled a pass from Ander Lopez and blasted a 25-yard shot for the lead.

The Tribe outshot the Bobcats 14-6 and also led in shots on goal, 9-4. Neally made six saves before the Indians pressure finally paid off for the win.