SUMMIT — It wasn’t easy, but the Cathedral Green Wave soccer team secured a spot in the South State playoffs with a 3-2 victory over North Pike Thurday night.

Cathedral scored all three of its goals in the first half, two of them on penalty kicks by Kris Griffiths and Harrison Burns.

Cole Mann scored the other goal for the Green Wave.

With a 3-0 halftime lead, Cathedral looked like they would be able to comfortably cruise to a victory in the second half.

However, North Pike fought back gamely with two second-half goals.

Both goals came off free kicks following Cathedral penalties.

Simons said there were twice as many fouls called on Cathedral in the second half.

“We had a hard-fought physical game against Franklin County on Tuesday and had another tonight,” Cathedral coach Rick Simons said. “Some of the stuff that didn’t get called (penalties) in that game were called tonight. Different referees have different ways of refereeing the game.”

However, the Green Wave defense stood strong following the two North Pike goals and didn’t allow the Jaguars to tally the equalizer.

“We held them off,” Simons said. “Our defense didn’t allow them anywhere near our box the last 15 or 20 minutes of the game.”

The win allowed the Green Wave (11-5, 4-2) to secure second place in District 7-1A-3A and clinch a playoff spot.

Cathedral will travel to play Richland in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday.

“I think this is our 10th year in a row to make the playoffs,” Simons said. “A lot of teams in this district have never done that. It’s definitely a great accomplishment for being in a district as athletic and talented as ours.”