PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry defeated Bishop 4-2 in a game called early for a serious injury.

About a minute was left in the game when East’s John Marion went down with a head injury, according to Coach Bill Hart.

The Cardinals were nursing a 4-1 lead when Bishop went for a last-gasp attack.

John went to knock the ball away from the goal, and a Bishop player swung his leg to make a kick, Hart described.

The offensive player made the kick and got it past the keeper, but he also struck a knee into John’s temple.

As medical personnel attended to Marion, the two coaches huddled and decided to call the game right then.

Marion was transported to Forsyth Medical Center with his status unknown at press time.

East Surry led 3-1 at halftime thanks to two goals by Brayan Gomez and a goal and assist to Ethan Atkins.

Atkins put the Cards on the board first with a breakaway goal. Then on a corner kick, he passed to Gomez for a score to make it 2-0.

Bishop then scored on what Hart called a great shot from distance. The hard ball got through the defense and into the net to make it 2-1.

Gomez scored his second goal off a free kick from about 25 yards out.

The second half was only about two minutes old when East Surry got an insurance point.

Gomez was tripped up in the box to earn a penalty kick. Austin Haymore converted the PK to make it 4-1.

The game would continue scoreless for the next 37 minutes before the final play.

Hart said his squad came out focused and ready to play. In the first half, the Cards played with a high rate of energy.

Hart praised his defense for keeping a good Bishop team away from the net most of the night.

He noted keeper Marco Gomez and defenders Marion, Haymore, Andrew Kozlow and Trace Simmons.

The Cards will be at home next Tuesday against Surry Central.

Hart said the team is making this a breast cancer awareness night in support of classmate Ashley Smith’s senior project. Smith, a volleyball player, got her squad to participate in a Dig for a Cure game last week with all the players sporting pink warmup T-shirts.