Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Cristian Salazar of Tift County passes ahead to a forward as they begin to increase offensive pressure against the Demons in the second half.

TIFTON — Tift County’s soccer Blue Devils and Lady Devils finished up the 2025 home portion of the schedule Tuesday, splitting games against non-region Warner Robins. The Devils got two goals from Jordan Lopez and a bunch of defense to win 2-0. The Lady Devils had three goals — two by Jordyn Shivers — but visitors scored five times.

Tift has one last Region 1-6A game left, Friday at Lowndes. They wind up the season April 15 at Berrien. It will be the first time they’ll see their neighbors to the southeast since 2016 and the first time in Nashville in at least a decade.

“We totally dominated them,” said head coach Bobby Earls of the Devils’ win.

Goalkeeper Braylon Samuel did not face an actual shot on goal all night. That’s how good the Blue Devils were defensively Tuesday.

However, the Demons were nearly as tough. Tift had few good looks at goal until late in the first half.

The final minute was a flurry of activity for TCHS on offense that included a free kick, but could not score.

Earls admitted he would have been frustrated if his team had not been able to win after playing such a great defensive game. Fortunately, they got a “W” for him.

A few minutes into the second half, their pressure increased. The Blue Devils had back-to-back corner kicks six minutes in. Lopez had a shot saved and they had their best look yet midway through the half when Cristian Salazar’s free kick went exactly where they wanted, but they still couldn’t break through.

Lopez turned and shot a ball that knuckled instead of bent. Four minutes later, Preet Patel not only kept a ball in, but served it to the middle of the field. There, Lopez had enough of an opening to drive in with 12:42 remaining on the clock.

Tift had a lead. It was skinny, 1-0, but it was there.

The back line helped control possession and saved valuable time passed it amongst themselves as the forwards looked for openings to make runs. They got another free kick, and another corner for their efforts.

Juan Rodriguez sent a pass ahead that turned into a shot, bouncing off the keeper’s gloves. Lopez, in perfect position, took advantage of the gift rebound and the important insurance goal went in with 2:15 left.

Warner Robins tried to play faster, tried to crack the back line, but couldn’t. Samuel and Blue Devils preserved the clean sheet and Tift’s fifth win of the season.

WARNER ROBINS 5, TIFT 3

Two goals by the Lady Demons in the first 20 minutes made all the difference.

Amy Deleon helped get the TCHS offense going with a pair of shots, including one that went off the post. Then Caroline Dotson and keeper Diana Reducindo took one away from the visitors. Reducindo ran up to make an initial tip save, but the ball had enough momentum that it continued towards the goal. There, Dotson stepped in and kicked it out just before the goal-line.

Sigrid Martinez got the Lady Devils on the board with 2:11 left in the first half, a goal that involved the whole team. After being initially denied, the forwards kept control and passing around until Martinez found a spot to shoot.

Warner Robins was up 2-1 at the break.

The score went to 3-1 to 4-1 in a two-minute span. The Lady Demons got their first goal of the second half with a shot through a crowd. With 24:33 left, they scored their fourth of the day.

A penalty kick was Warner Robins’ fifth goal.

Like Lopez in the boys game, Shivers caught a break on a tip. Shivers fired a high shot that ticked off the keeper’s hands and in with 16:08 left.

Shivers made a steal with 2:28 left and scored from the right side to wrap scoring.