LAKELAND — George Jenkins put the pressure on St. Cloud from the start and came away with a 4-0 win over the Bulldogs Monday night in the first round of the Class 5A, District 7 boys soccer tournament at Jenkins High School.
Tyler Fine scored two goals and Eoin Coffey and Trey Johnston each had a goal to lead the Eagles, 12-3-4. C.J. Conner had two assists.
The Eagles will play the Ridge Community Wednesday night at George Jenkins. Ridge defeated No. 2 seed Osceola 4-1 Monday.
Jenkins coach Tanner Mosher said it was one of the better games his team has played recently.
“Tonight’s energy was a lot different than what we’ve been seeing the last couple of games,” Mosher said. “Tonight’s energy was just ... there was never dull moment. There was never a lull.
“It was continued energy and press, energy and press, energy and press. I was really proud of the way they came out,” Mosher said. “We had the best warmup we’ve had in a while and I just had a feeling tonight we were going to have a really good result because of it.”
Jenkins and St. Cloud played to a 1-1 tie in December.
For the night, the Eagles outshot St. Cloud 21-11. Jenkins goalkeeper Jonathan Martin a recorded 10 saves in the shutout.
First-half goals by Fine and Johnston gave the Eagles a 2-0 halftime lead.
Fine scored unassisted, stealing a clearing pass and taking the ball in for a goal eight minutes into the half.
Johnston added Jenkins’ second goal on an assist from Conner, taking a centering pass and beating St. Cloud goalkeeper Noah Craig from the left side with six minutes left in the half.
Coffey made it 3-0 early in the second half scoring on a rebound five minutes into the half.
Fine scored again with 24 minutes left on an assist by Conner to push the Eagles’ lead to 4-0.
St. Cloud closes out the season with a 6-8-3 record.