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#7 Pinecrest vs Hoggard Saturday, November 4th, 2006 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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#7 Pinecrest vs Hoggard Saturday, November 4th, 2006 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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| The 2006 Pinecrest boys' soccer season came to a close Saturday night as the visiting Vikings from J.T. Hoggard High School of Wilmington scored a 2-0 victory at the John Williams Athletic Complex, eliminating the Patriots from the 4-A playoffs. "There's an element of luck in every close soccer match," said Patriot coach Larry Martin, "and it didn't seem to be in our favor tonight. We had good opportunities that just would not go in." Martin was referring to four Pinecrest shots that either hit the post or crossbar. Hoggard moves on to face Middle Creek High School of Apex in the third round. Pinecrest finished the season with a mark of 22 wins, 2 defeats and one draw. Most of the match would be played in the midfield as both teams possessed excellent defensive backlines. Pinecrest allowed only 17 goals in 24 matches this season, while Hoggard's defense was anchored by a North Carolina Olympic Development Program center back. Pinecrest would have the early chances, first off a corner kick at four minutes that found its way to Russell Stewart, but his shot would be deflected just over the net, resulting in a corner kick. Once again, the Patriots came up a bit short when Karl Ainslie headed the ball that just missed finding the goal. Hoggard would be ruled offside four times in the opening 15 minutes, but would find an escape at 17 minutes that resulted in the first goal. Pinecrest keeper Glenn Holmes would charge the breakaway, forcing a pass left, with the ball then volleyed just out of Holmes' reach and into net by Hoggard's Niko Young for 1-0 lead. Defender Jim Hobbs would save a goal five minutes later on another breakaway, as he dived to deflect a shot that was headed into net. Pinecrest would hit the crossbar at 27 minutes as a long throw from Matt Sessoms was headed into the frame by Brandon Zoellner, with the rebound landing at the feet of Thomas Goulden, whose shot unfortunately was just over the goal. Two minutes later a sweeping cross from Stewart found Sessoms eight yards out, with his redirection header hitting the post and bounding away. The game's final score would come at 37 minutes, as Viking attacker Hal Keith found the net for a 2-0 Hoggard lead. Pinecrest would press the attack in the second half, with good scoring efforts coming from Ainslie, Hobbs, Goulden and Zoellner, including a post rattler in the 60th minute, but unfortunately none would find the mark. Hoggard played most of the second half in a defensive shell, smartly slowing the game down to take time off the clock, while maintaining possession as much as possible. Hoggard would record only a single shot on goal in the second half. "The game turned pretty physical, which took us out of our finesse game," Martin said. "I must give credit to the Hoggard team as well." Pinecrest, the Mid-Southeastern Conference champions, boasted a team filled with seniors, and Martin said he was pleased with the season's accomplishments. "This was a great senior class who set high expectations for themselves," he said. "Those kids played really hard. I wish them the best in everything they do in the future." <-Previous 11-1-06 vs Pine Forest (First Round, State Tourn. W, 6-0) |