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Pinecrest vs Wake Forest-Rolesville Friday, May 13th, 2005 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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Pinecrest vs Wake Forest-Rolesville Friday, May 13th, 2005 John Williams Field, Southern Pines, NC |
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| It was one-and-done for Pinecrest in the state 4-A girls’ soccer playoffs at John Williams Field Friday night. Wake Forest-Rolesville scored three unanswered goals in the final 24 minutes to defeat the Patriots 5-2 in the second-round contest. The Patriots, who received a first-round bye as champions of the Mid-Southeastern Conference, got goals from Stacey Blanchard and Molly Lynch. Callie Nelson picked up a hat trick for the Cougars. The Cougars (11-7-2) of the CAP Six Conference advance to play Wilmington Laney, a 2-1 winner over Terry Sanford, next week in a third-round match. The Patriots finish up at 18-3-2. Before the quick-striking ability of the Cougars began taking its toll on the home team, the action was about as good as it gets. “This was what you call a great soccer game back and forth,” Cougar coach Bob Anderson said afterwards. “I heard how good this team was before we came down here and they showed nothing to change that. They are a good soccer team.” The outside speed of the visitors was first shown by a couple of runs down the left wing by Mary Lewis that ended with shots from inside the Patriot penalty area. One of the best early scoring chances for the home team came on a direct kick from the left by Blanchard that just missed connecting with the head of Stephanie Carter at the far post. Then in the 21st minute, an unmarked Jennifer Dyer of the Cougars received a pass in front of the Patriot goal. From about 25 yards away, she tucked the ball inside the left post, making it 1-0. While the early balls of the Cougars were often being negated by offside calls, the Patriots played more of a possession game. The first payoff came in the 31st minute after freshman forward Latanya Cain was taken down at about the same spot Dyer scored from at the other end. Blanchard’s direct kick eluded the Cougar goalkeeper and the match was tied at 1-1. Just before halftime, the Cougars beat the offside trap for a go-ahead goal. Patriot goalkeeper Katelyn Burwell was about 30 yards away from the goal when Nelson received a ball in the right wing, several yards past the last defender. Nelson had only the open net in front of her and made it 2-1. At the outset of the second half, a nice buildup by the Patriots resulted in a shot by Lynch and a save for the Cougars inside the penalty box. About a 10-minute siege of the Cougar goal ended with the Patriots getting the equalizer. After winning a corner on the left side, a corner kick by Sara Cole was headed goalward by Ann Fields. The Cougar goalkeeper stopped it but couldn’t put it away. Lynch was there to head the rebound into the net. The goal by Nelson that gave the Cougars the lead in the 56th minute was spectacular. After receiving a pass just past midfield she sped down the right side, matched step for step by a Patriot defender. Just before running out of real estate, she found the net at the far post with a kick from a difficult angle. “Callie is one of the best players in our conference,” Anderson said. “She uses both feet equally well. That shot could have come from the other side just as easily.” Five minutes later, the offside issue raised its head again. Dyer served a ball through to Leslie Tyler, who had only Burwell to beat for the goal that made it 4-2. Nelson scored the final goal at the 75-minute mark. “They worked that trap well,” Anderson said, “but we beat them a couple of times for goals.” The Patriots were playing without two of their top-three goal scorers in senior Lauren Broderick (hamstring) and junior Katie Fields (ankle). After the match it was announced that Broderick has been selected to play in the East-West High School All-Star game this summer. Patriot assistant coach Hector Cuevas thought that at least one of the Cougar goals was scored in an offside position. “Either way we had our chances,” he said. “That third goal was a backbreaker. To their credit, they played the counterattack the right way. “We controlled the game possession-wise a lot more in the second half than in the first half. It was frustrating because of all the possession we did have.” The game was the last in a Patriot uniform for seniors Broderick, Allison Auman, Blanchard, Carter, Megan Cole, Sara Cole, Maggie Gartman, Molly McGahey and Lora Smith. Over the last four years the Patriots were 57-1-1 in the conference and 79-8-5 overall. Cain finished the season as the Patriot leader in goals (33) and assists (13). <-Previous 5-6-05 at Scotland County (W, 10-0) |