Dragons soccer outlasts Patriots on PKs
It took a penalty-kick shootout for the Clinton High School boys soccer team to earn its first District 4-AAA victory of the 2026 season.
The Dragons and Union County were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, and the outcome wasn’t decided until Clinton prevailed 4-3 in the shootout at home on Tuesday, March 31.
“We were tied and we went straight to penalty kicks,” Clinton coach Filip Leander said. “By our district rules, you have to have a winner, and that’s unfortunate because it should go down as a tie.
“In the shootout, Ben Tackett had a couple of great point-blank saves.”
Angel Venegas scored Clinton’s goal during regulation and added another in the shootout.
“Angel Venegas is having an all-district and all-region season this year,” Leander said. “He has six goals.”
Leander said Clinton got off to a slow start against the Patriots.
“We started a little slow,” Leander said after seeing his team improve to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the district. “But overall, we played good soccer.
“I’m really proud of the boys. They’re playing high-quality soccer.”
