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Pinecrest at Scotland County Monday, September 15th, 2003 Pate Stadium, Laurinburg, NC |
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Pinecrest at Scotland County Monday, September 15th, 2003 Pate Stadium, Laurinburg, NC |
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(1-0-0) |
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(0-1-0) |
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| The Pinecrest boys' soccer team kept the Scotland County goal under siege for most of the night in Monday's Mid-Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. But it took some slight of hand by the visiting Patriots to produce the only goal of the match in the 1-0 victory. In the 11th minute, Patriot forward Scott Martin was fouled by a Scot defender about 35 yards away and to the right of the home team's goal. As he was pulling himself to his feet, he set the ball down and in the same motion kicked it ahead to teammate David jannone streaking by him. Scot goalkeeper Daniel Pruitte was the only defender between him and the goal. The senior beat him with a shot on the ground into the far corner of the net. "You try to get the ball off as fast as you can and hope you catch the defense off guard," Jannone said. "We (he and Martin) grew up playing soccer together so sometimes this kind of thing happens and sometimes it doesn't." Patriot coach Larry Martin said that the standard defensive strategy is to try to delay the free kick by having a defender stand over the ball. This allows the defense time to set up a wall. The quick action denied the Scots that opportunity. "Two guys who have played together and know each other exploited the situation," Martin said. "I think they're (Jannone and Martin) starting to get some real chemistry in working together. They are both giving it up for the other guy." Pinecrest with a record of 3-5-2 overall, took 20 shots in the match to only two for defensive minded Scotland, 2-4-1. Both of the attempts by the Scots provided anxious moments for coach Martin and Patriot supporters. In the 22nd minute, the Scots' Dillon Oxendine broke free down the left side and shot wide of the far post from about 10 yards. In the 43rd minute, John Parker passed to Oxendine about 15 yards away in front of the goal and the junior unloaded a shot that cleared the bar by only a foot or two. Almost all of the rest of the attacking was done by the Patriots. Jannone, Martin, Dustin Burns, Gabe Bruno and Jonathan Gribben all had good chances to add to the 1-0 lead. Burns almost iced the match in the 70th minute when he sent a swerving shot just wide of the far post following a pass from Jannone. "It was frustrating to get down there and not get it in the net," the Pinecrest coach said. "We did a good job of keeping our composure knowing we had only one point on the board. "I thought our guys played smart for the most part protecting that. Scotland didn't have many opportunities because we kept them out here (pointing toward midfield). I thought we played well defensively, and we can play better." After the game, Jannone gave his opinion on what the team needs to do to convert more of its opportunities in the offensive third of the field. "More communication would be great," he said. "We have to do a better job of letting each other know when a man is on us. That kills us a lot of times." Scot coach Colin McDavid said that he was pleased with the performance of his squad. "We have a young team that's rebuilding," he said. "I was pleased with the two chances we had. I wish we could have capitalized on them. I thought we played our game for the most part." McDavid was asked if he noticed anything different about this Pinecrest team that is pursuing its seventh straight conference title and is undefeated in league play since the year 2000. "It is a typical, talented Pinecrest team," he said. "The difference is, he (coach Martin) doesn't have that player yet that takes it to the next level like a Matt Capasso or a Joe Burger (2003 graduates). They're all on the same page, and that's good, but he doesn't have that one player. Eventually, that player will show up." Pruitte contributed nine saves for Scotland. Patriot goalkeepers Rashad Gatling and Jonathan Shute were without a save as the team recorded its third shutout. The Pinecrest junior varsity improved to 7-2-1 with a 6-1 victory over the Scotland. The Patriot goals were scored by Marco Gironda (three), Omar Abusamra, Tommy Ransdell and Daniel Johnson. Tonight, Pinecrest entertains Richmond County in another conference match at 7 p.m., preceded by the junior varsity contest at 5:30 p.m. <-Previous 9-11-03 at #10 Lee County (L, 1-2) 9-17-03 vs Richmond County (W, 4-0) Next-> |