BIRMINGHAM — Demopolis High School soccer coach Peter Keen has never been more ecstatic about a loss than he was Friday evening.

Keen’s Tigers squared off with perennial powerhouse and region foe Briarwood Christian, falling 2-0 in the contest.

“Unbelievable game,” Keen said. “Seventy minutes and it was 1-0.”

Briarwood scored its initial goal nearly 40 minutes into the contest and could not cash in again until a late opportunity developed when the official missed what Keen believed should have been an offsides call.

“We definitely dominated the ball,” Keen said. “We won every ball.”

That effort fronted the work of junior goalkeeper Austin Holtzclaw, who denied all but two of Briarwood Christian’s 15 shots on goal.

“I’m definitely very proud of them,” Keen said of his players. “If they play like that the rest of the season, they will go far.”

The loss drops Demopolis to 6-4 and 1-2 in region play. The Tigers take to the pitch again Saturday at 10 a.m. when they host Wetumpka at 10 a.m. and Theodore at 3:30 p.m. Wetumpka will play Theodore immediately following the first game of the day.