The Mathews High School varsity soccer team just missed a state playoff berth, but the Blue Devils didn’t go down without a fight, coming back from a 3-0 deficit last Wednesday before eventually falling to the visiting Northampton Yellow Jackets, 4-3.

The Blue Devils had played Northampton twice in the past for the same seed in state competition. Much had changed in the three years since Mathews played them, but the Blue Devils knew that the Yellow Jackets were not to be taken lightly.

The Blue Devils began the game sluggishly, while Northampton began with a much faster pace and was able to quickly overcome the Mathews defense and score a goal only eight minutes into the game. By halftime, Mathews found itself with a three-goal deficit.

The second half began with Mathews gaining momentum after Jordan Bozza scored a goal off a penalty kick. The Blue Devils succeeded in keeping the ball in Northampton’s side of the field for most of the second half after Bozza’s goal...