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Pinecrest vs Green Hope Wednesday November 8th, 2005 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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Pinecrest vs Green Hope Wednesday November 8th, 2005 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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| Two goals scored by Green Hope within a five-minute span late in the first half were enough to eliminate Pinecrest from the boys’ state 4-A soccer playoffs Wednesday night at the John Williams Sports Complex. The 2-0 loss ends a 20-game unbeaten streak for the Patriots (20-4-1), while the Falcons (14-6-3) advance to play in a fourth-round match against Wilmington Ashley on Saturday. On an almost balmy evening, more than 600 fans watched the Patriots narrowly miss a couple of chances to get the goal that might have changed the momentum. “It’s a disappointing loss,” Patriot coach Larry Martin said. “To be fair and to try to be as objective as you can, I think we probably got outplayed tonight. That’s not to say things couldn’t have gone differently because they could have.” The visitors established an edge in the run of play right from the start. In the first minute, Evan Pausa made a diagonal run from the right side before receiving a pass and unloading a shot from about 18 yards away that sailed over the goal. One of the few early chances for the Patriots came off a direct kick from the right side by Michael White. Russell Stewart flicked the diagonal ball to Travis Grasso, who got off a header and then volleyed the rebound over the bar. Leading up to the first Falcon goal in the 22nd minute, the Patriots were intent on attacking with long balls down the center of the field. They were usually picked off and sent back by the Falcon defenders. “We win the ball in the air very well,” Falcon coach Andrew Chadwick said. “We knew they would try to play from the back because they have two great forwards. Our defense is very good. This is our third playoff game and we haven’t given up a goal yet.” The scoring sequence began with Pausa beating his mark on the right side. Patriot goalkeeper Glen Holmes rushed out to meet him, but the senior forward chipped the ball over him from about 25 yards out into the empty net. The second goal by the opposite side forward Taylor Estrada also went into an empty net, with Holmes again arriving late and unprotected. “I’ll say this,” Martin said, “our guys didn’t quit. Both of the goals they got, you can replay that, and that wouldn’t happen again. That’s soccer.” The Patriots came within a hair of cutting the lead in half before the intermission. Another direct kick by White was headed toward the right post by forward Tommy Ransdell. Falcon goalkeeper John Schwartz grabbed the ball with his back to the playing field. The line official was right there to rule that the entire ball had not crossed the goal line. Holmes turned back a couple of dangerous attacks just before teammate Matt Sessoms was fouled in the Falcon penalty area in the 54th minute. Schwartz guessed right and stopped the penalty kick by Stewart. The last best chances for the Patriots to get on the board came on a couple of dangerous crosses from the left side by Grasso. “That could have been a momentum builder,” Chadwick said of Pinecrest’s penalty kick opportunity. “When you make the save like that, the momentum is on your side.” Green Hope is a wildcard entry from the Tri Seven Conference that includes the first, fifth and ninth-ranked teams in the latest 4-A state coaches’ association poll (Apex, Cary and Athens Drive). Chadwick would welcome playing Pinecrest again next season. “Pinecrest has a great facility and great fans,” he said. “The fans really got into it and they gave us some good razzing. It was really fun to play here. This is what high school soccer is about.” Martin also pointed to the fans as delivering extra incentive to his team. “We’ve had the 12th guy here in the stands all year long,” Martin said. “I appreciate the student body that came out and I appreciate the support of the parents. That means a lot to the fellows.” The winners took 15 shots in the match to 10 for the Patriots, who played without injured midfielder G.R. Horton. Seniors Horton, Ransdell, White, Marco Gironda and Daniel Johnson all played in their last game for the Patriots. “I think in the second half our guys stepped it up a notch and started winning balls,” Martin said. “I think a lot of that was just reaching down to find another gear. “I hate to see the seniors go. There are some really fine kids there.” <-Previous 11-5-05 vs Rose (Second Round, State Tourn. W 3-0) |