By Ken Lay
For the second consecutive year, the Fulton High School Falcons are the District 3-2A champions.
The Falcons defended their 2025 title with a 6-0 victory over Carter Thursday night at the Haslam-Sansom Complex in the Lonsdale community.
Fulton junior forward Emanuel Mosquera Gonzalez wasted little time showing those in attendance and the Hornets why he was the District 3-2A Offensive Player of the Year as he scored five of the Falcons’ six goals.
He helped his side establish control early as he found the back of the Carter net in the 14th minute of the match. He would close out the scoring in the opening half when he tallied a marker in the 31st minute, giving the Falcons (10-6-1) the 2-0 advantage they enjoyed at halftime.
Fulton, despite seizing the upper hand early, missed numerous scoring chances and coach Austin Clow wasn’t happy at the break.
“We weren’t playing this like it was a championship game. We were playing it like it was a regular-season game,” Clow said. “And that was why I was upset at halftime.”
The coach gave his squad a pep talk at halftime, and apparently, he struck a chord.
“I think they got the message,” Clow said. “We have a lot of young kids, and they might’ve been on the team last year, but they didn’t play much. This is new to them.”
Clow got the response he wanted as the Falcons scored quickly after halftime, and they would tally early and often. Fulton marked four times over the final 40 minutes as they got a second-half hat trick from Gonzalez, who received his Offensive Player of the Year Award after the match.
Just three minutes into the second half, Fulton extended its lead to 3-0 on a goal by Steven Lopez Rivera, one of just two seniors on the team’s roster.
Sophomore goalkeeper Michelangelo Maez kept the Hornets at bay as he made seven saves en route to recording a clean sheet.
Gonzalez scored in the 54th, 68th and 73rd minutes to help the Falcons claim their second straight district championship.
These titles didn’t come easily. Fulton has emerged as a competitive force three seasons ago. But the Falcons had to endure some painful experiences along the way, losing in the district semifinals three years ago.
“That’s what I told them before the game,” Clow said. “That we had a lot of heartbreak.”
Fulton will next play on Tuesday at home when they host District 4-3A runner-up Union County. The Hornets (14-6) will play at Gibbs in an elimination region semifinal on Tuesday.
The Eagles outlasted the Union Co. Patriots, 2-1, Thursday night.
In District 5-2A: No. 1 seed South-Doyle won the tournament championship with a 7-0 victory on Thursday. The Cherokees will host a Region 3-2A Tournament match on Tuesday.
