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#15 Pinecrest vs #3 Fayetteville Academy Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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#15 Pinecrest vs #3 Fayetteville Academy Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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| The Pinecrest boys' soccer team opened the 2007 season with a convincing 3-0 win Wednesday over the visiting Fayetteville Academy Eagles at the John Williams Athletic Center. A brief thunderstorm delayed the start for one hour but the faithful fans were rewarded with exciting end-to-end soccer for the next 80 minutes. Pinecrest Coach Larry Martin couldn't have been happier with his squad's performance in the opener. "I'm really impressed with this team's speed," he said. "We can go from defense to counter-attack quickly. It was the difference in the game tonight." No serious scoring efforts emerged until the 28th minute, when a Pinecrest throw-in from the left side was controlled by sophomore Max Brenner, who found junior midfielder Tyler Herbst in space 20 yards from goal. With one quick touch and a curling 18-yard strike just inside the right post, Herbst gave the home side the 1-0 advantage. Fayetteville Academy attempted to level by pressing the attack but two diving saves by Pinecrest keeper Brad McKeever would keep the Eagles off the scoresheet, as the first half ended with the Patriots leading 1-0. The second half would be more wide open as both teams began to tire. In the 46th minute, Pinecrest's Coby Kavanaugh would just miss a header from a well-delivered cross by Aaron Stroker. The Eagles would counter in the 52nd minute with a shot attempt that rattled off the near post. McKeever would again deny an Eagles attempt in the 65th minute as a pass threaded through the Pinecrest defense left the Fayetteville player alone with the keeper. A minute later, Kavanaugh would effectively end the night for the visitors, as he beat two defenders at the goal line, touched the ball to his left and blasted a low left-footed shot to the far post for the 2-0 lead. Pinecrest attempted to kill the clock for the remainder, and were rewarded on a nice counterattack in the 77th minute when sophomore midfielder Thomas Goulden found Max Brenner in space downfield. Brenner, taking the ball in stride, rounded the keeper and tucked home the last goal for the final 3-0 scoreline. Martin was impressed with the play of Kavanaugh, his senior captain. "He was a real handful for Fayetteville's defense tonight," Martin said. "His ability to hold on to the ball, beat them with the dribble and his speed scared them to death." He also had good things to say about his team's defensive effort. "Our work rate was great tonight," he said. "Everyone hustled and we were able to get numbers behind the ball." The Pinecrest jayvees also defeated their Eagle counterparts by the same 3-0 scoreline in a rain-shortened contest. Scoring for Pinecrest were Avery Gant, Gray Anderson and Kevin Grasso. Dana Parziale recorded the shutout in goal. Pinecrest plays Monday night at home versus Rocky Mount. 8-27-07 vs. #6 Rocky Mount (W, 2-0) Next>> |