ROANOKE RAPIDS — The second shoot-out score by Taylor Burnette sealed the win for Roanoke Rapids to advance them to the next round of the NCHSAA playoffs after playing for almost an hour and 50 minutes with a, 2-0, victory over Cedar Ridge.The soccer game turned marathon carried a lot of weight for each squad as it was go or go home.

Randy Wrenn | The Daily Herald Alec Myers,16, of Roanoke Rapids, tried to shake lose a Cedar Ridge defender while going after the ball in the round one soccer game the Jackets won, 2-0, in a shootout after the regulation score was tied one-all. Advertisement

Both teams went scoreless in the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second. A total of 50 minutes ticked off the clock before Cedar Ridge got one past Jacket goalie Brian Howard at the 27:43 mark. Roanoke Rapids however, went even longer without a score until  Rudy Draper scored off of a Moises Acevedo assist to tie the game at one with 3:20 left in the game. Neither squad was able to score again to end regulation play tied.

The next 20 minutes were broken up into two 10 minute period, which also went scoreless, as did the two-five minute periods therefore forcing a shoot-out. Howard, who had played tremendously in the net all night with big saves,  let the adrenaline flowing through his veins take over and stopped two shots on goal by Cedar Ridge. After the Jackets had a shot blocked and one kicked wide, it was Acevedo scored the first goal by kicking it straight at the goalie and Burnette went wide with his shot putting it out of reach of the goalie and right into the corner.

Howard made another stop and it was game over the Jackets had endured the marathon and hard fought effort of Cedar Ridge to play round two at home. Roanoke Rapids will play round two Saturday night at Hoyle Field.