After a win over Wade Hampton on Tuesday, May 10, in round one of the lower state soccer playoffs, Dillon as eliminated by Academic Magnet on Thursday, May 12.

Academic Magnet got off to an early lead when a defensive breakdown gave them an open shot three minutes in. Andrea Ndadaye answered for the Wildcats with a goal at the 15 minute mark, but an injury put Luis Palomares out for the rest of the first half. Academic Magnet capitalized on the injury to control the rest of the half, scoring three unanswered goals.

Behind 4-1 at the half, the Wildcats battled back to 4-3 before time ran out. Taylor Langston scored twice for the Wildcats, with one nice shot at the 60 minute mark and another 78 minutes in off a nice cross from Logan Turnage.

TJ Grimsley nearly tied things up with one more good scoring chance, but Academic Magnet’s goal keeper made the save to seal the victory for the Raptors.

“We really shut them down in the second half,” said Dillon coach Mark Chickering. “They played their starters the entire time, but we just kept playing hard. Academic Magnet was tough, probably the best team we’ve ever faced.”

“Shuler Hayes played really well in goal,” he added. “He kept us in it the entire game. Normally when a team scored four goals, it’s not a good day for the keeper. This was the exception.”

Dillon had 10 shots to Academic Magnet’s 18.

On Saturday, May 14, the Raptors defeated Hanahan 3-0 to make it to the semi-finals on Tuesday against Bishop England, where they fell 1-0 to the Battling Bishops. Bishop England will face the winner of Wednesday night’s upper state game between Gilbert and Indian Land for the Class AA State Title on Saturday, May 21.