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Pinecrest vs #5 Fayetteville Academy Tuesday, August 30th, 2005 Fayetteville, NC |
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Pinecrest vs #5 Fayetteville Academy Tuesday, August 30th, 2005 Fayetteville, NC |
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| A dramatic goal on a direct kick by Russell Stewart drew Pinecrest even with Fayetteville Academy at 1-1 in the 74th minute. But the elation was short-lived for the Patriots after the Eagles’ Jackson Ferrell scored on a flick-header off of a long throw-in about three minutes later. Tuesday’s 2-1 home soccer loss dropped the Patriots to 1-1 while the Eagles improved to 6-0-1. The Patriot jayvee team moved to 2-0 after defeating the Eagles 3-0 in the preliminary contest. The match between the Patriots, a perennial 4-A power in the region, and an Eagles’ squad that has won the NCISAA state championship six of the last seven years was well played throughout. “We wanted to have a little different outcome,” Patriot coach Larry Martin said, “but I’m real proud of the guys. It hurts because this is a team we respect. I thought we played quality soccer and played with heart for the whole game.” For nearly 50 minutes, it looked like a first-half goal by Ferrell, a freshman, might hold up for the visitors. That one came in transition at about the 25-minute mark. Britt Bordone played a ball over the top to Ferrell who collided with Patriot defender Jordan Howlett about 25 yards from the goal before slipping the ball by onrushing goalkeeper Glen Holmes. Howlett left the game with an injury and was unable to return. Early in the second half, Holmes kept the Patriots close by deflecting and then covering a header by Bobby Brown that appeared to be bound for the net. About two minutes later, the Patriots’ Matt Sessoms made a strong bid for the equalizer. He received a ball near the top of the Eagle penalty area, cut inside and unloaded a shot with his right foot that ricocheted off the far post right into the gloves of goalkeeper Josh Geiger. With under 10 minutes left in the match, the Patriots’ Tommy Ransdell carried the ball down the right side almost to the end line. His cross back to Michael White in the penalty area was one-touched into the net only to have the goal whistled off for offside. But a few minutes later, Ransdell was taken down by an Eagle defender about 22 yards from the goal, giving Stewart his chance. The junior midfielder beat the Eagle wall with a shot inside the left post, well out of the reach of Geiger. Soon Stewart lined up for another direct kick, just a few yards farther away. This time his chip attempt over the wall was collected by Geiger. Leading up to the decisive goal, Holmes punched away an Eagle corner kick and Geiger stopped a shot by the Patriots' Marco Gironda off of a cross from Travis Grasso. Ferrell’s second goal came on a throw from Brendan Nolan. The Patriots were unable to mount a serious threat before the final whistle sounded. “To get a goal in the last few minutes,” said Eagles’ coach Andrew McCarthy, “was a testament to the character of the kids.” The Patriots traveled to Wilmington Hoggard on Thursday. They are on the road again next Tuesday against Lee County. John Kropp opened the scoring for the Patriot jayvee team against the Eagles by finishing a corner kick off the foot of Michael Hieronymus. Tyler Dawson and David Adams were the other goal scorers with Tyler Gordon and Adams contributing assists. Goalkeeper Bradley McKeever received credit for the shutout. <-Previous 8-24-05 vs. South View (W, 1-0) 9-1-05 at #9 Hoggard (L, 0-1) Next-> |