Highland Park scored a goal early in the second overtime to edge Junction City in the Blue Jays soccer home opener at Al Simpler Stadium.

Blue Jay coach Drew Proctor said his team has to be better at eliminating mistakes, and his team knows it. “We’ve got to look to keep the ball, keep possession, find some through balls, get in behind the defense, and create opportunities to score.”

Proctor noted Highland Park had a very good goal keeper. “Props to them. They parked the bus in front of the goal today. They have a very good keeper and they played their strategy very well.”

The Blue Jay goals were scored by Ford Harter and Junior Moore.

Junction City fell to 0-2 with the loss.

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Tempers flared on the field after the match. After the teams exchanged handshakes, members of the Highland Park squad ran down the field to the east end soccer goal with several jumping up and touching the bar across the top of the goal before falling down inside the goal as they celebrated.

It upset some of the Blue Jays who became angry but other members of the Blue Jay team and other officials intervened to physically restrain a small number of players and prevent a fight from beginning. It was very tense for a few moments on the field before order was restored.

Proctor noted his squad looked back at the reaction they had after the game. “Every single one of them is upset about how they acted, and they know that I’m upset. We’ve got a little ways to go on that end. ” While he felt that was a step backward the coach indicated he had full confidence that his players would turn around and take two steps forward in the next week.