By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

COLUMBUS – Ian Bryan scored a pair of goals to help the Callaway Cavaliers notch a critical 2-1 road win over Spencer on Friday night.

The Cavaliers improved to 3-1 in Region 5-AA, and they bolstered their chances of finishing first or second in the region and earning a home game for the state playoffs.

The two teams will play again today, and this time the game will be at Callaway’s soccer complex.

A win, and Callaway will be alone in second place in the region and trailing only Lamar County.

“If we can turn around and beat them on Monday, that puts us in the running (for the region title),” Callaway head coach Mike Petite said. “It gets us where we need to be.”

In Friday’s game, which was played at the Woodruff Farms complex, it was a scoreless game when Bryan scored eight minutes into the second half.

Spencer tied it a few minutes later when it made a penalty kick.

It was still tied at 1-1 when Spencer was called for a foul with about 17 minutes remaining, and Bryan made the penalty kick to give Callaway the lead, and Spencer was unable to answer.

“We played really well,” Petite said. “It was tough field conditions, and really kind of muddy down there at Woodruff Farms. It was tough for both teams.”

In Friday’s girls’ game, Callaway cruised to a 5-1 victory over Spencer to improve to 3-1 in the region.

Kelly Carlisle led the way with three goals, and Chloe had one goal.

Callaway also got a goal when a Spencer player accidentally kicked the ball into her own net.