Duncan’s hat trick propels Beaufort past HHP

By Justin Jarrett

LowcoSports.com

With the Region 8-3A schedule providing little resistance beyond newfound rival Philip Simmons, Beaufort High’s girls soccer team stepped into the SCISA ranks for a non-conference test Friday night, and the Eagles passed with a last-minute cram session.

After trailing at halftime, the Eagles netted four second-half goals — three of them from sensational junior Selena Duncan — to rally past visiting Hilton Head Prep for a 4-3 win.

Duncan leads the team in goals (31) and assists (8) and has scored a goal in 13 of 14 games with six hat tricks.

Reese Meyers added the other goal on a free kick and Gianna Pacheco dished out two assists for the Eagles, who have won four straight matches and 11 of their last 12, with the lone setback a 4-3 overtime loss to Philip Simmons. Beaufort holds the edge over the Iron Horses in aggregate score, though, by virtue of a 4-2 home win in March, so the Eagles can clinch the top seed in the playoffs with wins over Hanahan and North Charleston next week. Beaufort dominated the first meetings with the Hawks (7-0) and Cougars (16-0), so it’s almost a foregone conclusion.

Beaufort High’s Selena Duncan, left, outmaneuvers Hilton Head Prep’s goalkeeper and scores the third of her three goals during the second half Friday, April 12, at Eagles Stadium. Despite being down 1-0 at the half, the Lady Eagles went on to win the match, 4-3, with Reese Meyers also scoring on a free kick for the Lady Eagles. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort (11-2-1) has one more test mixed in Tuesday at SCISA power Porter-Gaud, which should provide a good litmus test for where they need to focus their attention in order to get past powerhouse Waccamaw and reach the state finals.

Beaufort’s boys have missed the stellar senior class that led a run to the Class 3A championship game a year ago, but the Eagles closed out the regular season with an impressive win, stunning Philip Simmons in penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw. The win didn’t impact Beaufort’s playoff seeding — the Eagles will still be the No. 3 seed and open on the road — but it gives Terry Rawlins’ team a big emotional boost going into the postseason.

Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports.com. He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor.