Spring Valley's Matt Harding goes for the header. The Spring Valley Vikings scored three goals in the second half to run away from the visiting Nation Ford Falcons with a 4- 0 victory in the opening round of the class 4A boys soccer playoffs. The Vikings are looking to make a fourth straight trip to the state finals this year. They won the title in 2007 and will travel to Dorman for a second round matchup May 14.

Roughly an hour before the contest with Nation Ford, Spring Valley's Ashkon Babaee was wrapping up his playoff match at number one singles for the undefeated Viking tennis team. He defeated Boiling Spring's Chase Lyles 6- 2, 6- 1. Babaee then exchanged his tennis shoes for a pair of cleats and scored the opening goal to put his Spring Valley soccer team up 1- 0 over Nation Ford.

The goal came in the fourth minute after Antoine Parris' shot bounced into the air off Nation Ford goalkeeper Carson King. Babaee collected the loose ball and punched it into the empty net. After that, Babaee earned a much- deserved short rest from Spring Valley coach Dave Clark.

Nation Ford's Nathaniel Enos lunges for the ball as Spring Valley's Brett Watts runs by. Despite the early goal and the final outcome, the match was played evenly in the first half. A diving save by Spring Valley goalkeeper Ben Limbaugh off Andy Barbieri's rocket shot was the only thing keeping the score from being tied. The Falcons actually out shot the Vikings 4- 3.

The second half was a different story.

While Nation Ford managed six shots, none were close. Spring Valley, on the other hand got nine shots, and three found the back of the goal.

The first of the three came in the 42nd minute. Parris took the ball from midfield down the left side, seemingly untouched, and effortlessly kicked in a score by the diving King.

The Falcons kept fighting, but it seemed every time a pass was made to the center of the Spring Valley box, no one was their to make the shot. Then in the 71st minute, the Vikings put the game away.

Pierce Flanders almost scored on a flying header a minute earlier, but left no doubt when his right footer from the top of the left side of the box flew over King's head and into the back of the net giving Spring Valley an insurmountable lead.

Spring Valley's Ashkon Babaee looks for a holding call on Nation Ford's Walker Johnson. However, the Vikings were not done. Parris crossed a picture perfect pass to the back post in the 74th minute that Brett Watts kicked in for the 4- 0 lead.

Spring Valley's Antoine Parris nearly gets his second goal as Walker Johnson pursues.