In soccer action this week, the Newton boys and girls soccer teams dropped home contests to visiting Rockdale County in a rivalry sweep.

The Lady Rams fell 3-2 after allowing a pair of first-half goals, while the boys team dropped a 4-2 contest to the Bulldogs.

In the opening contest, Rockdale netted the first goal, taking a 1-0 lead, but Newton tied the game with a successful offensive possession, and it looked as it the teams were headed into the break tied 1-1. But, with two seconds remaining in the half, the Lady Bulldogs scored their second goal and carried a one-goal advantage into halftime.

Newton's defense held for the first five minutes of the second half, but at the 35-minute mark, Rockdale sophomore Maria Campos netted the game-sealing goal, extending Rockdale's lead to 3-1.

Lackey Brackett scorched a 17-yard strike through Rockdale's defense with 49 seconds remaining, bringing the Lady Rams within one, but the Lady Rams were unable to put together another scoring run with just a few ticks left on the game clock, falling 3-2.

Boys doubled up

In the late game, the Newton boys soccer program was doubled up 4-2 by the Bulldogs.

Rockdale sophomore Djorn Barrett started the scoring off with a goal at the 11:59 mark and Christopher Barrera added a second goal before the break, pushing the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0 at halftime.

Newton needed just 25 second in the second half to notch its first goal of the game, cutting the lead to one on a Myles Martinez goal.

Newton tied the game just minutes later with its second score of the night, but Shad-I Dawkins gave the Bulldogs back the lead for good at the 33-minute mark before Rockdale added a fourth and final goal with 23:19 remaining in the game.

The loss was the fifth consecutive defeat for the Rams.

Tennis victorious

The Newton boys and girls tennis teams combined to go 4-0 this week, sweeping Luella and Morrow in region play.

Against Luella on Wednesday, the Newton boys team defeated the Lions 4-1, while the Lady Rams picked up a 5-0 win.

In singles action, Tufail Khan and Craig Thomas posted back-to-back wins for the Rams, while Anthony Bradley and Demetrius Calhoun earned an 8-6 victory over the Lions in No. 1 doubles. The Newton duo of Marcus Willis and Chris Scott defeated Luella 8-1 in No. 2 doubles, securing the 4-1 win.

"This was a huge win for us, especially on the boys' side," Newton coach Michael Bryan said. "I believe it is the first time our boys have beaten Luella in four or five years.  Craig Thomas and Tufail Khan played really well at the one and two spots, and our doubles teams were strong once again."

On the girls side, Bri Weaver, Irma Soriano and Ashley Jean-Baptiste earned singles victories, while the teams of Ify Egbulem/Hanah Scott and Ja'lynn Cole/Brooke Menchion earned 9-7 and 8-5 wins, respectively.

Against Morrow on Tuesday, the Newton boys again earned a 4-1 win, while the Lady Rams swept the Lady Mustangs 5-0.

Khan and Thomas earned wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, while Bradley/Calhoun and Willis/Scott won in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

Weaver, Soriano and Jean-Baptiste were winner for the Lady Rams in singles, while Egbulem/Scott and Cole/Menchion walked away with wins in doubles.