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Pinecrest vs Lee County Thursday, September 26th, 2002 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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Pinecrest vs Lee County Thursday, September 26th, 2002 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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| If the Lee County soccer team that faced Pinecrest Thursday didn’t seem quite up to the level of previous Jacket squads, maybe it was partly because it didn’t have any Solle. The Patriots’ Joe Burger converted a 14th-minute direct kick opportunity into his 15th goal of the season. The Jacket goalkeeper barely moved as he perfectly placed his 20-yard kick from just to the right of the penalty area inside the far post. Neither team threatened often after that. Pinecrest, now 9-2-2, took eight shots to seven for the visitors. Goalkeepers Rashad Gatling and Jonathan Shute shared the team’s fourth shutout win in a row with a save apiece. “When we play non-conference games, we usually get tough teams in here and Lee County is certainly one of them,” Pinecrest sweeper Matt Capasso said. “We put one in the back of the net early and that gave us a little confidence. The defense stepped up well tonight and took the challenge.” Last year, Lee handed Pinecrest one of its worst home defeats in coach Larry Martin’s tenure. The graduated Nick Solle and then junior Ryan Solle had a hand in all four first-half goals in the Jackets’ 5-0 victory. Ryan, a member of the pool for the national team in his age group, and a Wake Forest signee, had arthroscopic knee surgery several weeks ago. The Jackets have struggled to a 4-10-1 record, in part because of his absence and a difficult schedule. Following a well-played first half by both teams, Lee had the better of things in the second. Their best chance came in the game’s 60th minute when midfielder Scott Phillips beat the Patriot defense down the middle, but put his shot from 10 yards directly in front of the goal over the frame. “They were beating us to the ball in the second half,” Martin said. “Plus, they are a big team, and a lot of times, we got pushed off the ball. It felt like the old bend, don’t break routine. We were there whenever there was a critical situation and somehow seemed to stop the little leaks. We just weren’t sharp offensively.” With the Jackets fighting frantically for the tie in the closing minutes, the Patriots put the narrow margin in peril several times by committing fouls in their defensive third of the field. “It was hard toward the end, because everybody was going all out and everybody was tired,” Capasso said. “We stuck with it and hopefully this will help us the rest of the season. It’s a good win for us.” Joining Capasso in the back for most of the contest were fellow seniors Brad Shinn and Doug Andrews and freshman Michael White. The Patriots, 5-0-1 in the league, resume Mid-Southeastern Conference play tonight at Douglas Byrd. Wednesday, they have a showdown for first place at Scotland County (4-0-2). The Pinecrest junior varsity dropped a 3-2 decision to Lee for its second loss of the season. Information about Pinecrest boys’ soccer can now be found at Web site www.pinecrestsoccer.net. Included are varsity and junior varsity rosters, schedules and results. A photo in Friday’s The Pilot incorrectly identified the Patriots’ number 17. The player should have been identified as Michael White. <-Previous 9-25-02 vs Seventy-First (W, 9-0) 9-30-02 at Douglas Byrd (W, 2-0) Next-> |