Warhawks meet an early end in first round of the playoffs

WARNER ROBINS — The Veterans Warhawks fought valiantly to keep their season going, but in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs the Riverwood Raiders took home the victory 3-2.

Veterans hasn’t lost in the first round since the 2014-2015 season, and though they made a push in the final minutes, Friday ultimately ended their season.

The first score of the night came on a penalty kick after Joe Maloney fouled Riverwood inside in the box.

With 11:20 left in the first half the Raiders gave Veterans a chance for a penalty kick, and Camryn Laris took the shot to knot the game at one.

The Raiders constantly kept pressure on the Warhawks’ goalkeeper Bradyn Black, and though he kept up through most of the first half, Riverwood broke through again to take a 2-1 lead before halftime.

The staunch Warhawks defense kept the Raiders at bay for most of the second half, but with 11:25 to go Riverwood scored their third goal to go up 3-1.

David Drake got a header to go in the last five minutes of the game, but Veterans couldn’t pull it out before the final buzzer sounded.

Warhawks coach Matt Roth commended his team on fighting through the adversity in Friday’s loss.

“The team believed in each other and fought. They responded to going down 2 goals and kept fighting,” he said.