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Pinecrest at Richmond County Monday, September 15th, 2008 Raider Stadium, Rockingham, NC |
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(3-0-0) |
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(0-2-0) |
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Pinecrest at Richmond County Monday, September 15th, 2008 Raider Stadium, Rockingham, NC |
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(3-0-0) |
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(0-2-0) |
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The Pinecrest boys' soccer team traveled to Richmond County Monday night, defeating the Raiders of Richmond High School by a narrow 2-1 margin. The victory improved the Patriots' record to 6-1-1 overall and 3-0 in Mid-Southeastern Conference play. Pinecrest also managed to stay within this week's state top 20 rankings despite last week's loss to 14th-ranked Leesville Road. The Patriots will be home for two games this week, hosting undefeated conference foe Hoke County tonight and taking on traditional power and 10th-ranked JT Hoggard High School of Wilmington on Friday. Monday's game against Richmond was a tale of two halves. Pinecrest dominated the first half, recording both goals and then survived the second as a game Richmond side pressed forward. Junior midfielder Thomas Goulden scored both Pinecrest goals, the first at 30 minutes as senior Matt Carriker heaved a 40-yard throw towards goal; the ball bounced high to Goulden who headed it to the upper left-hand corner past the diving keeper. In the final minute of the half, Goulden played a short corner kick to Junior Ryan Osterman who quickly returned it to Goulden who curled a left-footed shot from 20 yards out over the keeper and into the far corner for the 2-0 halftime advantage. Pinecrest had chances to extend the lead after the restart. Well-played through balls freed Junior Max Brenner and Senior John Kropp for breakaways against the Raiders keeper, but neither player was able to convert. Midway through the final half Pinecrest ran out of steam, no longer able to connect their passes and forced to play some desperate defense. In one sequence the Raiders were awarded a short-range free kick that was pushed aside and out of play by Patriot goalkeeper Matt Scott. The resulting corner kick was deflected from the goal mouth by Junior defender Dylan Cole. A Raider player shot the ball back toward the Patriot goal, only to see senior Eric Parziale clear the ball off the goal line and out of harm's way. Richmond continued to press the attack against Pinecrest until the Raiders finally broke through with 10 minutes remaining in the contest, when a ball misplayed in the Patriots back line would find the feet of Raider Tommy Cox. Cox rifled a shot to the far post that beat Scott and cut the Patriot lead in half. The Raiders continued to attack, but Pinecrest weathered the storm and closed out its 54th consecutive win in conference play. <-Previous 9-12-08 vs #10 Leesville Road (L, 2-5) 9-17-08 vs Hoke County (W, 3-0) Next-> |