STATE TOURNAMENT: FIRST ROUND

Pinecrest Patriots

Game 24

#7 Pinecrest vs Pine Forest
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC
Pine Forest Trojans
(22-1-1)
6
  0
(9-12-0)
Goals: Karl Ainslie 2 PK, Tyler Dawson 2, Russell Stewart, Coby Kavanaugh (PC)
Assists: Brandon Zoellner 2, Thomas Goulden 2, Matt Sessoms (PC)
Pinecrest      1   5  -  6
Pine Forest   0   0  -  0

 
PATRIOT BOYS BLANK TROJANS IN SOCCER
By Dean Parziale: Special to The Pilot, Appeared Friday, November 3rd, 2006
     The Pinecrest boys' soccer team advanced to the second round of the state 4-A playoffs with a convincing 6-0 victory over Pine Forest High School of Fayetteville Wednesday night at the John Williams Athletic Center.
     The Patriots finished the regular-season ranked seventh in the N.C. Soccer coaches 4-A poll and improved their overall season record to 22-1-1 with the win.
     The Patriots move on to face Wilmington's J.T. Hoggard High School Saturday at home in a second-round match that starts at 7 p.m. Saturday's game will be a rematch from one earlier this year. In that early September contest, Pinecrest won 1-0 in a hard-fought effort.
     Pinecrest would dominate the first half of play but have difficulty registering scores. Early chances by Jordon Howlett, Coby Kavanaugh and Russell Stewart would narrowly miss the frame, keeping the visitors in the match.
     Finally in the 34th minute, a corner kick delivered by Brandon Zoellner would be cleared back to Zoellner advancing in from the corner, one quick touch and a threaded pass to Tyler Dawson in the goal front put Pinecrest up 1-0.
     "I warned the team they would need to be patient, not rush the game," said Patriot coach Larry Martin. "It will take some time for them (Pine Forest) to tire."
     The half would end 1-0. Glenn Holmes in net for Pinecrest was not severely tested as the few forward efforts from Pine Forest were thwarted by the Pinecrest offside trap.
     Pinecrest's patience and fitness would again pay off in the five-goal Patriot second half.
     Six minutes in a well-served cross from Thomas Goulden was powered through the keeper's hands off the head of Karl Ainslie for 2-0 lead.
     A slick play in the 50th minute would result in the third Pinecrest goal, with Zoellner passing from the wing to Matt Sessoms at the 18, who laid the ball off to Stewart who blasted one low into the net from 25 yards out.
     Pinecrest would extend its lead to 4-0 at 62 minutes from the penalty spot when Karl Ainslie was fouled in the box, and then converted for his second of the night.
     Dawson would score his second of the match 10 minutes later, again from a well-served ball via winger Goulden.
     Kavanaugh would finish the scoring three minutes from the end of the game, beating the last defender and then finding space underneath the keeper for the 6-0 final.
     "The outside midfields were great tonight," Martin said. "The freshman Thomas Goulden and Zoellner did an unbelievable job serving balls into scoring opportunities."
     Looking forward, Martin remained cautiously optimistic.
     "The team believes they can do it," he said. "However, the competition will get tougher. We do need to communicate better, continue to play our game, use our strengths in the midfield and defense while being patient with the attack."

Season:   Goals Scored: 136    Goals Allowed: 17     Overall Record: 22-1-1    Conference Record: 14-0-0

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