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Pinecrest vs Jacksonville Saturday, November 2nd, 2002 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC 4OT 5-3 PK |
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Pinecrest vs Jacksonville Saturday, November 2nd, 2002 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC 4OT 5-3 PK |
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| Jacksonville boys’ soccer coach David Miller summed up the reality of state playoff soccer following his team’s heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Pinecrest on penalty kicks Saturday night. “I don’t like winning that way and I hate losing that way,” he said, “but you’ve got to have a winner.” With the spectators all huddled together toward the north goal for a closer look, the Patriots’ Eric Hayworth tucked his team’s final kick into the right-hand corner of the net for the 5-3 penalty kick edge. Goalkeeper Jonathan Shute stopped the second Cardinal attempt to make the margin possible. Meanwhile in Fayetteville, New Hanover defeated Terry Sanford 3-1 in two overtimes to earn the right to play at Pinecrest at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the third round of the 4-A state playoffs. Both teams were able move up and down the field through most of regulation and four overtimes, but could produce no goals and few serious shots. “We had opportunities and they had opportunities, but nothing great because there was some outstanding defense out there,” Pinecrest coach Larry Martin said. “People were closing down hard.” Both teams took 11 shots during the 110 minutes of on the field action. Each team made its strongest bid for a goal in the overtimes. Six minutes into the first 10-minute period, Cardinal goalkeeper Jason Miller watched helplessly as a flick header by the Patriots’ Joe Burger off a Stephen Lacher cross was just wide. The Cardinals best chance came in the fourth extra period when Jason Callahan was wide open 15 yards away in front of the goal and missed to the right. “It was a high pressure game back and forth,” Miller said. “I thought we had a couple of better opportunities than they did, we just didn’t capitalize on them. “Pinecrest came up big on the penalty kicks. They buried them.” Brad Shinn took the first kick from the 12-yard stripe and blasted it into the right-hand corner to get the Patriots’ off on the right foot. The Cardinals’ Brett Patterson went the other way to knot it at 1-1. After Burger converted his attempt, Shute fully extended himself to knock away Austin Gant’s shot aimed toward the left post. Lacher and Scott Martin made theirs, bringing Hayworth to the line with the Patriots ahead 4-3. The junior defender was asked what he was feeling at the crucial moment. “The most frightening part was walking up there because everybody was calling my name,” he said. “But as soon as I got to the ball I was focused. I have a routine. I just look at the keeper, look at the ball, and then it’s over — it’s in — every time.” Shute, who split the time in goal with Rashad Gatling, was in his first ever shootout. He said that he had only stopped one other penalty kick. “After the first one went in, I kind of settled down and got focused,” he said. “I don’t know why or how, but I did.” Sweeper Matt Capasso teamed up with fellow seniors Shinn and Doug Andrews and freshman Michael White to turn away the skilled attackers from the now 17-7-1 squad from the Mideastern Conference. Hayworth, Will Carpenter and James Franklin also helped give the Patriots a physical edge in the back. “It was a hard fought battle both ways and unfortunately both teams couldn’t win,” Capasso said. “I hate to go down to the wire like that, but it’s a great feeling when you win them. My teammates came through and here we are in the third round.” Mid-Southeastern Conference champion, Pinecrest (18-2-2), faces a Hanover squad (19-2-2) that handed Terry Sanford all three of its losses this season, and finished second behind Wilmington Hoggard in the Mideastern Conference. One of the Patriots’ two losses came at the hands of Terry Sanford by the score of 2-1. “Every game is going to be a tough game, but I’m looking forward to them,” Martin said. “We’ll do like the cliche and take them one at a time.” <-Previous 10-23-02 vs Douglas Byrd (W, 9-0) 11-6-02 vs #8 New Hanover (Third Round, State Tourn. L 1-2) Next-> |