ZEBULON – The Southeast Bulloch boys 2018 soccer season came to end Friday, as the Yellow Jackets fell, 3-0, to Pike County at Pirate Field in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs.

Southeast Bulloch was the fourth seed out of Region 3-AAA, while Pike was the top seed out of Region 4-AAA. SEB finishes 6-11 on the season

The game was scoreless midway through the first half, and, while Pike dominated action, neither team could muster a strong shot on goal. But a defensive lapse with 17:31 to play in the half allowed the Pirates a point blank shot that beat SEB goalie Mitchell Waters for a 1-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets nearly tied it five minutes later when midfielder Danny Healy, playing his final game after four seasons in a Yellow Jacket uniform, stole a pass near midfield, got past one defender and then threaded a pass to striker Tristan Sojka at the top of the 18. With only the goalie to beat, Sojka’s shot went just high.

It looked like it would stay 1-0 going into the half, but Pike put a corner kick quickly into play and a shot off the cross bar bounced directly to a Pike player, who scored 23 seconds before halftime.

The Yellow Jackets couldn’t mount any offensive pressure in the second half, but Waters kept SEB close with several acrobatic saves. Pike scored with 7:41 to play for the 3-0 final.