The Metter boys soccer team has continued to build off last year’s success, now sitting at 13-1 and looking for its first state title. The team is led by two of the top 14 goal scorers in the state. The pair of Anthony Benitez and Jonatan Elizalde combine as the top goal-scoring duo in the state with 53 goals.
Benitez is the third-leading scorer in the state, according to MaxPreps. His 30 goals trail the leader, Jesus Vega of Dooly County by only seven goals. He has been remarkably consistent this season, scoring at least one goal in 12 of the team’s 14 games. In addition to his 30 goals, he’s added 15 assists, giving him the third-most points in the state.
The team’s second-leading scorer, Jonatan Elizalde, may be the most underrated player in the state. His 23 goals rank 14th statewide and tie him for third in Class A Division I. More impressively, he leads the state in assists with 35, 13 more than the next closest player and 16 more than anyone else in his classification. That production has vaulted him into the lead for the most points in the state.
As a team, the Tigers have been dominant, starting the season with a 13-game winning streak and already surpassing last year’s win total. Their only loss came to a strong Atkinson County team that sits at 14-2 on the season. Metter cruised through region play, winning the area title by three games, with the outcome never in doubt.
They will wrap up their regular season on April 10 with a matchup against Wheeler County, a game they are expected to win. With their playoff seeding already secured, the Tigers will get a first-round bye and face Irwin County in the second round. The Indians, who will also be coming off a bye, have struggled this season with a 4-10-1 record but managed to clinch the fourth seed from their area.
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