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Pinecrest at Hoke County Monday, October 13th, 2008 Raz T. Autry Stadium, Raeford, NC |
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(10-0-0) |
3
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(4-4-1) |
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Pinecrest at Hoke County Monday, October 13th, 2008 Raz T. Autry Stadium, Raeford, NC |
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(10-0-0) |
3
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1 |
(4-4-1) |
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| When the Hoke County boys' soccer team scored just 12 minutes into Monday night's match, there was buzz around the stadium that the Bucs beating Pinecrest at soccer would be like Pinecrest football beating Richmond County. The Patriots, however, would spoil the home side's wishes as Coach Larry Martin's side rallied for a hard-fought 3-1 victory. "Hoke is a speedy talented team," Martin said. "It took us way too long to realize we were in a serious match." Pinecrest claimed the season title in the Mid-Southeastern Conference improving to 10-0-0 and 14-2-3 overall, it is Pinecrest's 12th straight conference championship and guarantees home field advantage through the state playoffs. Hoke fell to 4-4-1 in conference and fourth place. Pinecrest hosts Jack Britt tonight for Senior Night. The Buccaneers are in second place in the conference. Hoke set the tone early, pressuring Pinecrest's midfield and defense and forcing junior keeper Lewis Cable to make diving save just six minutes into the match. Hoke broke the scoreless tie at 12 minutes into the match. The score brought the vocal home supporters into the action. Hoke's motivation was evident as they continued to press the attack, Pinecrest finally able to find their feet late in the half. After having a goal disallowed due to offsides, the Patriots finally got on the scoreboard with two minutes left in the half. Pinecrest's hustling Jack Talton breaking down the center of the field was initially denied by the Hoke keeper, the rebound bounced around until Talton gathered the ball in and scored. The intermission would serve to focus the Pinecrest side as they returned and dominated possesion and scoring chances in the second half. Pinecrest would then silence the noisy home crowd in the 58th minute as senior captain Eric Parziale drove a 35-yard free kick past the wall of Hoke defenders and inside left post for 2-1 advantage. As Hoke now chased the game, scoring chances for Pinecrest became plentiful with Talton and Seniors Tyler Herbst, Matt Carriker and Parziale testing the netminder. The Patriots would put the match out of reach in the 75th minute as Junior Ethan Kavanaugh ran left wing and picked out classmate Ryan Osterman who took one quick touch and slid the ball underneath the keeper for the 3-1 final. "In the second half the game turned our way," Martin said. "We finally started getting after the ball and challenging more aggressively. I'm going to have to address the slow, flat start. I'll be warming the guys up before next game and they will probably wish they were playing the game instead." <-Previous 10-10-08 vs Union Pines (T, 0-0) 10-15-08 vs Jack Britt (W, 3-1) Next-> |