SOUTH WEBSTER - South Webster and Waverly both sat atop their respective conferences when the game began but it was the Jeeps that added coal to the engine to fuel their championship chase with a 3-1 win at home Tuesday night.

The win puts South Webster in a strong position with only three games left in the SOC I. The Jeeps are 7-1 in the conference and are tied with Valley. The Jeeps' three remaining games against West, Minford and Valley. If the Jeeps win against West and Minford and Valley defeats Waverly, then the SOC I title would be determined in the final game.

South Webster started off slow but recovered well. Waverly took its initial possession deep into Jeeps' territory but South Webster fired back launching its first shot on goal less than one minute into the contest.

The Jeeps scored first when senior Derek Patterson broke through the Tigers' defense and fired his shot above and left of Waverly keeper Phillip Casey with 32:50 remaining.

After their first possession, the Tigers didn't threaten to score again until the final seconds of the first half.

“We came in focused and ready to go,” said Waverly coach Chris Murphy. “South Webster just came ready to play.”

Waverly's defense held the Jeeps scoreless for the first 17 minutes of the second half but senior Patrick Rice received a pass from Matt Malone and turned a one-on-one situation against the keeper into a 2-0 South Webster lead.

Rice said the senior-heavy Jeeps knew how important this game was and came prepared.

“We had to win,” said Rice. “We had to win to stay on top of the SOC.”

The Tigers cut the lead to one when Isaac Blanford scored on an assist from Rheadon Remy. Several players on both sides were in the goalie box and a Tiger player collided with South Webster goalie Jeremy Collins giving Blanford an open shot.

The Jeeps put the game out of reach late in second half. It appeared Waverly was about to clear the ball but Ryan Fenton got a piece of the ball and scored for the final margin.

All the Jeeps scorers - Patterson, Rice and Fenton - are seniors.

“I think (the win) had a lot to do with our senior leadership,” said South Webster coach Corey Claxson. “Our guys know what to do. They don't get their heads down.”

The loss drops the Tigers into a tie with Wheelersburg for first place in the SOC II with three games remaining.

Waverly 0 1 - 1

South Webster 1 2 - 3

First Half - 1, South Webster, Patterson (una) 32:50.

Second Half - 1, South Webster, Rice (Malone) 21:04, 2, Waverly, Blanford (Remy) 17:49, 3, South Webster, Fenton (una).

Records - Waverly 8-5 (8-2); South Webster 9-2 (7-1)