Jackets' Record Season Ends With 6-1 Loss at Bradford Prep

The most successful boys soccer season in Hayesville history ended Thursday night in Charlotte, as the Yellow Jackets fell 6-1 to No. 8 Bradford Prep in the second round of the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs.

Bradford Prep (13-10-1) struck four times in the first half to take a 4-0 lead into the break, then added two more goals in the second half. Hayesville got on the board after halftime for its lone goal of the night.

The loss closes the book on a milestone fall for the Yellow Jackets (13-6). Hayesville set a program record with 13 wins in a season, breaking the mark of 12 set in 2017, and carried a six-game winning streak into Thursday's match. The run included Monday's 4-2 win over Albemarle in the first round — the final event played at Frank R. Long Memorial Stadium before the installation of new turf.

The highlights piled up over the final month. Hayesville closed the regular season Oct. 28 with an 8-1 rout of Murphy on Senior Night, powered by four goals from Josue Salas and two from senior Jackson Dye. The Jackets swept Tri-County Early College with a pair of shutouts, 3-0 on Sept. 23 and 5-0 on Oct. 26, and edged Swain County 3-2 on Oct. 21 behind two goals from Francisco Rios.

Sophomore Adiel Hernandez gave the Jackets a scoring punch all season, earning a spot on the Citizen Times' list of the top 20 players to watch in the WNC playoffs, and senior goalkeeper Jackson Kohl anchored a defense that carried Hayesville to an 11-5 conference mark.