PORT NECHES — Port Neches-Groves Colton Stone had two goals but was mad at the one that got away Friday night at The Reservation.
Stone had the chance to get a hat trick with under four minutes left in a 3-0 PN-G (17-2-6) shutout win over New Caney but his shot just missed the back of the net.
“I did enough I guess but I am mad at myself for not getting that last one in,” Stone said. “It would have sealed the game.”
The victory meant PN-G advances to next week’s Class 5A Region III area round. PN-G will face Angleton (10-9-1). The Wildcats defeated Ridge Point 3-2 Thursday. Details of the PN-G/Angleton match have not been decided.
Stone scored both of his goals in the first half, the first coming off a nice assist from Preston Riggs with 28:15 on the clock to give PN-G a 2-0 lead.
He put the Indians up 3-0 with 1:38 remaining in the first half.
“Our team is really momentum based,” Stone said. “Once we start doing good, we build off that. Once we got the first one our team picked up and realized we had to step it up and finish this game.”
The Indians defense was superb Friday. PN-G senior keeper Bryce Meche had five saves and collected his 59th shutout of his career. Former Brenham keeper Zach Riffett holds the state record with 61 shutouts.
PN-G senior midfielder Koby Jones chimed in his 53rd career assist on the Indians first goal of the night. Preston Riggs found the back of the net off the Jones assist to put PN-G up 1-0 with 34:10 left in the first half.
The 53 assists are a school record.
“This was great for the kids,” PN-G coach Chad Luttrull said about being able to win a playoff game at home. “You can’t get bigger than this. I challenged the kids and told them this is bigger than Nederland and this is bigger than any game you have played in. You have to rise to the occasion and I am so proud they did that.”
Luttrull said he does not know much about Angleton yet but is ready to focus on the Wildcats. It will be a rematch of sorts considering the Wildcats eliminated the Indians in football this past year.
“I know they wear purple,” Luttrull joked. “That is all I know from them. They beat Ridge Point who was picked to go far. They obviously they are a good soccer team. Hopefully I will be able to see some film and make some phone calls to talk to coaches on how to attack them and how to defend them.”