Richland Northeast’s Adriel Santos hits the ground after slipping while battling for a loose ball against Dutch Fork’s Jordan Curnow. Moments after the final whistle of a 3–1 loss to Dutch Fork on Tuesday night, Richland Northeast coach Jay A’Hern reflected on an all–too–common result for his boys’ soccer team this season.

“I don’t want to say the outcome would have been different, but the game would have been different,” A’Hern said.

The coach and RNE alumnus watched his hopes of a playoff spot for his team end a month ago with a series of early season injuries.

“We didn’t have any depth, so the one thing we couldn’t have was injuries to our top guys – but we got them,” A’Hern said. “That’s why we were able to beat Dreher and Blythewood early in the season but have struggled since.”

Richland Northeast’s Hasiel Santos traps a through ball on a breakaway into the Dutch Fork penalty area. Against Dutch Fork (7–9, 7–4), a team currently locked in a tie with White Knoll for third place in Region V–4A, the effect of those injuries was obvious. While RNE possesses skilled ball–handlers, the team–passing game and ball movement did not equal that of the Silver Foxes, who scored three times in the first 30 minutes on goals by Roman Tkhoryk, Tyler Vincent, and Mike Klewer.

Though the Cavaliers’ Victor Olayo scored late in the first half, RNE couldn’t mount sustained threats or offensive pressure.

A’Hern hopes the team will finish, what has turned into a rebuilding season, strongly. Two of its remaining three games against Irmo (unbeaten in region play), North Augusta, and Orangeburg– Wilkinson are winnable.

In addition, three freshmen on varsity have shown abilities that can be built around: Sam Lourie, Hasiel Santos, and Ray Sanchez. A’Hern also points to the junior varsity team, which RNE fielded for the first time in recent years, thanks to 25 freshmen coming out for soccer. After a rough start, the developmental team has won two of its last four games–a sign of progress.

And while that is little comfort to this year’s seniors, it gives A’Hern reason to hope that injuries will not torpedo another season anytime soon.