The playoffs may escape the Lady Clinton Dark Horses if they don’t win their next two soccer matches, said Clinton’s coach Jeff Smith after Monday night’s 3-0 loss to Richlands.

“We just weren’t as good as that team,” said Smith, of the home game shutout.

“We are going to have to win our last two or three games to finish fourth in the conference. We’ve got to beat East Duplin and Croatan,” Smith added.

Coming out flat in the second half, said Smith, is what cost the Dark Horses the game.

It was fought mostly in the midfield with few scoring chances for both teams. Richland’s lady Wildcats and the Dark Horses battled for the ball all 80 minutes of the game. However, three opportunities for the Wildcat team set Richlands a part from Clinton.

Going into the second half with a one point lead, Wildcat Megan Hahne cut through Clinton’s defense, ran straight up the middle and scored on goal. Hahne’s goal was the turning point in the game, said Wildcat coach P.J. McManus. “I told the girls (at halftime), if we go out and get the second goal in the first eight to 10 minutes, we would be OK. And we were, and we got the third goal.”

Though the game was not the best played by the Wildcats, said McManus, adjustments in the second (half) allowed a change of momentum to swing their favor. After a back and forth game, McManus told his players to speed up the play of the game and to do a better job with first touches.

“It was a good game for us. We are definitely in the playoffs, more than likely, we will be the third seed.”

No matter the seed, the playoffs are the playoffs, added McManus. As long as the team is in it, it doesn’t matter, said the coach. “Once you are in the playoffs, everybody is the same, and we will make a run.”

According to Smith, Clinton must win Wednesday at Croatan and Monday, May 4, at home, when they host East Duplin. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m.

The first round of the soccer playoffs will be Wednesday, May 13. The location has yet to be announced.

Michael Connolly can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 120 or can be e-mailed at sicity@myclintonnc.com