Game 15 Pinecrest at Scotland County Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002 Pate Stadium, Laurinburg, NC
(11-2-2) (7-0-1)	2		1	(7-3-2) (5-1-2)
Goals: Joe Burger, Brad Shinn (PC), Adrian Allbrooks (SC) Assists: Scott Martin (PC), Phillip Moses (SC) Pinecrest    1    1  -  2 Scotland     1    0  -  1
PINECREST TIGHTENS GRIP ON FIRST PLACE By Charlie Bergmann: Staff Writer, The Pilot, Appeared Friday, October 4th, 2002

Wednesday’s soccer match in Laurinburg befitted a contest between two teams battling for first place.      Underdog Scotland County excited its fans with a goal in the third minute and continued taking the game to Pinecrest for a while.      Pinecrest began taking command late in the half and tied the match on a Joe Burger goal in the 25th minute. A Brad Shinn header off a Scott Martin corner kick in the 55th minute produced the deciding goal in the 2-1 Patriot victory.      The Patriots, now 7-0-1 in the Mid-Southeastern Conference, came into the match a half a game ahead of the Scots, who fell to 5-1-2.      The early goal originated from a towering free kick by Phillip Moses from near midfield that carried into the Patriot penalty box. The response by the defense was soft and the Scots’ Adrian Allbrooks won the ball in the air and headed it past goalkeeper Rashad Gatling.      “We started off picture perfect,” Scotland coach Colin McDavid said. “That was a beautiful header. But then we sort of relaxed and Pinecrest just kept coming and coming. We were never able to counterattack tonight.”      Shinn thought that in spite of the teams’ 1-1 overtime tie in their first meeting last month, the Patriot players might have been a little over-confident at the start.      “The first time, I think we went out there thinking we’re Pinecrest and we’re supposed to beat Scotland,” the senior stopper said. “I think we started that way tonight, but once they scored the first goal, it kind of lit a fire under our butt.”      The tying goal was preceded by a period of consistent penetration down the middle of the usually stout Scot defense by inside midfielders Mario Stratta and Neil Perez. On one such foray, Burger took a pass from Perez at the top of the penalty area circle and beat three defenders, one by one — and then goalkeeper Daniel Pruitte with a shot inside the left post.      Stratta, Perez and Burger and company were successful in taking on Scot defenders throughout the match.      “They were having a hard time — stabbing at the ball,” Burger said. “We realized that toward the end of the half and started taking on guys one-on-one. That gave us numbers forward and we could push the ball outside or go at the goal.”      In the second half, the Patriot attack more often came from the wings with outside midfielder Jonathan Gribben owning the left flank and Gabe Bruno the right. The pressure led to a number of corner kicks by Martin, including the deciding play of the game.      “On most of the corner kicks we took tonight, we put balls on the goal,” Burger said. “On Brad’s goal, Scott put it right on his head and he finished it.”      Pinecrest (11-2-2) took 14 shots to five for Scotland (7-3-2). Neither Gatling nor second-half goalkeeper Jonathan Shute had a save. Pruitte stopped eight shots for the Scots.      “I haven’t seen any better effort level out of our kids than I saw tonight,” Pinecrest coach Larry Martin said. “We didn’t put our heads down because they got a goal on the early free kick.”      Pinecrest won the junior varsity contest 7-0.      The goals were scored by Travis Grasso (three), Marco Gironda (two), Jordan Hansley and Caleb Miles.      Monday, both teams entertain Richmond County in conference action beginning with the jayvee game at 5:30 p.m. Times May Change, But Doesn't Erase Pinecrest-Scotland Rivalry      Could the eyes be deceiving?      Were those really the Pinecrest and Scotland boys' soccer teams kneeling together in prayer at midfield and then chatting with each other following the Patriots 2-1 victory in Laurinburg Wednesday night?      Has the most heated soccer rivalry in the Mid-Southeastern Conference mellowed?      Last spring, a number of members of the Pinecrest and Scotland squads played on a classic team together. The Scots' Colin McDavid was one of the coaches.      Still, Pinecrest senior Joe Burger thought the intensity on the field Wednesday night was even greater than at the first meeting last month when the teams played to a 1-1 overtime tie.      "He was our coach and I have nothig but respect for him and those guys," he said of McDavid and the other Scot members of the U-17 Sandhills Hurricane. "The first time we played them, there wasn't as much aggresive play because we knew the guys and we weren't taking it as seriously. I think this time we put the friendships aside for a night."      For Pinecrest coach Larry Martin, feelings of a rivalry go back to his high school days. He played on the second football team at Pinecrest that finished the season tied for first with Scotland and tied against eachother. He recalls the dissappointment his team felt when, by a vote of the coaches, the spot in the playoffs was awarded to the Scots.      "I like the whole idea of us knowing each other better," Martin said of the off-season connection. "I think that has made it richer for the kids. Once you get to know them, you realize that no matter what the result is, we're both just trying to do our best and have fun."      What's next, a joint team cookout at the end of the season?      "I have great respect for Colin," Martin said. "We are both competitive and we've had our rough moments. But we always get through them. But at the same time, Pinecrest and Scotland is still the rivalry."      Thank's for making that point clear, coach.                - Charlie Bergman Season:   Goals Scored: 60     Goals Allowed: 12     Overall Record: 11-2-2    Conference Record: 7-0-1 <-Previous 9-30-02 at Douglas Byrd (W, 2-0)              10-7-02 vs Richmond County (W, 4-2) Next->