Jordan's overtime goal lifts Wildcats over Wave
WEST ASHLEY 1 SUMMERVILLE 0
BY ROGER LEE, Special to The Post and Courier
SUMMERVILLE--This year nothing much has come easy for the West Ashley girls' soccer team, but the Wildcats are still alive in the Class AAAA playoffs after a 1-0 overtime victory over Summerville on Wednesday.
West Ashley's Jenny Ann Jackson lofted a throw-in in front of the goal to senior Danielle Jordan in the 12th minute of overtime, and Jordan slipped the ball in for the game-winner at Memorial Stadium.
Jordan started Wednesday's game in the sweeper position, but the West Ashley coaching staff moved her to forward in an effort to spark some offense.
After she scored the goal, Jordan was moved back to the sweeper position. With 2:30 remaining in overtime, she rushed to her goalkeeper's to stop what would have been a wide-open shot for Summerville.
Wildcats keeper Alechia Brothers had five saves to earn the shutout. Jordan and West Ashley midfielder Julie Bolt both had three shots on goal in the game. The Wildcats took nine shots on goal in overtime, which nearly doubled the shots they got off in regulation.
"The team really stepped it up in overtime," West Ashley coach Drew McNeely said. "Our bench helped us out and made a difference in the game."
Summerville had some good looks at the goal in regulation, as did West Ashley, but every time the Wildcats' defense blocked the attack. "Summerville gave us everything tonight," McNeely said. "It was gut-wrenching."
West Ashley (19-4) will face Wando in the next round. Summerville finished 13-6-1.
"I'm proud of my players," Summerville coach Sam Polk said. "They played their hearts out, and I wouldn't trade them for anything."
Fortner nets hat trick as Warriors blast Eagles
WANDO 6 BEAUFORT 1
BY BILL HENLEY, Of The Post and Courier Staff
Emily Fortner has envisioned great things for herself and her Wando teammates.
On Wednesday, she scored her second hat trick of the season as the host Warriors knocked off Beaufort, 6-1, in the second round of the Class AAAA girls' soccer playoffs.
"I feel so motivated," she said. "Once you get so far into playoffs you want to (score like) that every time. You just see yourself doing it or see one of your teammates doing it.
"After getting into playoffs, we feel more motivated to win."
The Warriors won't need much more inspiration for the next round when they face West Ashley at home on Friday. Wando, West Ashley and James Island split the Region 7-AAAA regular-season title and are all ranked among the top five programs in the state. The winner of Friday's match likely will see James Island in the Lower State championship game.
"The teams that are left are the teams that have perennially been very strong," Wando coach Scott Ferguson said. "When you've got three tough region opponents butting heads twice a year, you learn things. You learn to play faster-paced games and that will pay off for you in the playoffs."
Wando defeated West Ashley twice during the regular season, but Fortner takes nothing for granted.
"What's even harder is beating them a third time. They'll probably be more eager," she said. "We just have to be more focused. It won't feel like a regular game. Before if someone lost, it wasn't the end of the season. It'll be harder because it's all or nothing."
Wando (13-6) easily advanced to the third round of playoffs with four goals in the second half when Beaufort (7-11) was worn out physically. The Eagles had only three players on the bench, while the Warriors could substitute an entire second team if they wanted.
"They've the defending state champions and they're playing like it," Beaufort coach David Fess said. "They have more skill and more experience than we do and it showed."
Beaufort had a modest record but came into the game with a 1-0 upset victory over Region 6 champion West Florence. Wando, however, wasted little time taking control of matters. The Warriors opened up a 2-0 halftime lead as Sarah Catenacci assisted on a goal to Whitney Naramore and Fortner scored her first goal of the game.
Hannah Neipp made it 3-0 after knocking in a rebound of a Fortner header in front of the net.
For the most part, Wando controlled the ball and kept it on the Beaufort side of the field, but Beaufort's Bailey Morris picked off a lazy pass and got clear for a 23-yard shot into the left side of the net for the Eagles' only goal.
It only seemed to reawaken Wando's offense. Becky Doles crossed a pass to Fortner, who headed the ball into the net. Two minutes later, Fortner took advantage of a misplayed ball in Beaufort's box and finished her hat trick.
Wando's final score started with Kayla Nelson's crossing pass from the right side to Lindsey Dukes. She dished to Krista Ross, who finished the play.
Trojans unleash offense on overmatched Foxes
JAMES ISLAND 9 HARTSVILLE 0
BY MIKE CHERRY, Special to The Post and Courier
The defenders on the James Island High girls soccer team at least received a workout in one area: their jaws.
"We do an awful lot of talking about keeping your focus," James Island coach Stella Chisholm said.
Throughout Wednesday night's 9-0 victory over Hartsville, the defenders spoke to themselves, the midfielders and the bench. On rare occasions when they were needed to touch the ball, they often passed along the Trojans' backfield.
"They're more comfortable doing that than they were," Chisholm said.
Such skill among the defenders will be necessary in future playoff rounds. As for the cool, breezy evening at James Island's football stadium, the Trojans were seldom tested. In fact, James Island (21-3) did not permit a shot in advancing to Friday's 7:30 p.m. hosting of a Lower State semifinal against Irmo, a 3-2 winner Wednesday over Hilton Head.
Junior Kelly Gosnell, the Trojans' leader with 31 goals, scored twice to lead James Island. Lisa Frawley scored two minutes in for her 30th of the season. Other James Island scorers were Monica Basinger, Frankie Battye, Katie Holiday, Cortney Lassiter, Lacey Moskos and Caitlin O'Shea.
In all, James Island fired 34 shots at Hartsville goalkeeper Jamie Coker, who made 15 saves. The Trojans led 6-0 at halftime on their way to the postseason rout.
"They were outmanned," Hartsville coach Chris Alexander said of her squad.
Gosnell said she expected more from a second-round state playoff contest. "It's hard to play teams like that. Not as much skill. You tend to play like that and kind of find yourself running in circles on the field."
James Island goalkeepers Caroline Cooper and Betsy Patterson could have used a little exercise. A freshman, Cooper started in goal and did not touch the ball. Patterson relieved her at halftime and did not receive her first touch until the game's 55th minute. In all, Patterson handled the ball three times as the Foxes (14-7) never forced the duo to make a save.
Making matters worse for Hartsville, the team bus faltered following the game and the Foxes were forced to wait for a backup to make the three-hour trip back to the Florence area.
James Island merely needed to go home and ponder the fact that it is three wins away from a Class AAA state title.
"Our region we come out of is so much stronger," Chisholm said.
A 34-0 shot advantage is but one example.
Raptors girls top Lewisville, 10-0
Staff report
The Academic Magnet girls' soccer team cruised to its 15th victory in 16 games with a 10-0 decision over Lewisville on Wednesday night in a Class AA-A state playoff match at Ravenel Stadium.
The Raptors led 4-0 at the end of the first half, and the match was so lopsided in the second half that goalie Loring Ward switched positions and scored two goals.
Michela Blain, Aylah Clark and Lindsay Miller also scored two goals.
"We started out slowly, but we started picking up the pace, especially in the second half," Raptor coach Troy Bennage said. "We started playing Magnet soccer."
Ward and S-iara Washington combined for the shutout.
Academic Magnet will host the winner of the Wade Hampton-Waccamaw match on Friday.
BE girls romp to 11-0 win
Staff report
It was an atypical regular season for the Bishop England girls' soccer team. The combination of a young squad and a tough schedule produced only a 10-7-2 record. But the Class AA-A Lower State playoffs got into full gear Wednesday night, and the Bishops were their typical selves, drilling Indian Land 11-0 in the second round at Jack Cantey Stadium.
"We were young, but we didn't shy away from a tough schedule," said Bishop England coach Dave Snyder, whose team received a first-round bye and is seeking its fourth straight state title. "They developed as the year progressed and by the time we played Brookland-Cayce late in the season, the progress was significant.
The Bishops cruised against Indian Land as Erin Reifeis, Katie Jones and Mallory Begley all scored two goals.
"It's always good to get a playoff win, but tonight was very business-like," Snyder said. "We got the starters out early and our younger players got some playoff experience."
Bishop England will host the winner of the Barnwell-Hanahan game on Friday.
Girls' Soccer
Wando 6, Beaufort 1
Goals: Wando--Fortner 3, Naramore, Neipp, Ross; Beafort--Morris. Records: Wando 13-6, Beaufort 7-11. Next: West Ashley at Wando on Friday.
Bishop England 11, Indian Land 0
Goals: Reifeis 2, Chandler, Kirchner, Kandl, Jones 2, Landgrebe, Begley 2, O'Reilly. Shutout: Sherwood, Kaspar. Records: Bishop England: 11-7-1. Note: Class AA playoffs. Next: Bishop England vs. Hanahan-Barnwell winner, Friday in third round.
Hilton Head Christian 5, Pinewood Prep 1
Goals: HHC--Boardman 3, Farr, Fanning; PP--Roof. Records: Hilton Head Christian 18-7-1, 8-2; Pinewood 8-7, 4-5. Next: Pinewood hosts First Baptist today.
Boys' Soccer
Pinewood Prep 3, Hilton Head Christian 0
Goals: Braeuning, Grover, Reed. Shutout: Spearman. Records: Pinewood 16-4-2, 10-0-1; HHC 6-6-1, 6-3-1. Next: First Baptist at Pinewood today.
Girls soccer
(At) Chapin 4, St. James 1: Sophmore Kerstin Williams scored her team-leading twenty-third goal of the year, but the Lady Sharks still fell to Chapin. St. James had advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time and finished season with a record of 8-11.
Brookland-Cayce 2, Socastee 1: Stepanie Brockmann gave the Lady Braves a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Socastee could not hold Brookland-Cayce at bay. Goalee Lisa Lesnick had 15 saves for Socastee, as they finished the season 13-5.
(At) Airport 2, North Myrtle Beach 1
Dorman puts a hurting on Aiken
JOHN CLAYTON, For the Herald-Journal
ROEBUCK -- Given his last name, the easiest of assumptions is that Dorman senior captain Luke DiMaggio chose the wrong sport.
But the Dorman -- and now the Aiken's -- soccer team would disagree, despite the DiMaggio name being on the short list of baseball immortals.
DiMaggio scored two goals, including what proved to be the game winner in the closing minute of the first half, as Dorman routed Aiken 8-1 in the opening round of the Class 4A soccer playoffs.
The Cavaliers (17-5) will host Fort Mill (18-3-2), a 2-0 winner over Wren, in Thursday's second round.
"I played Little League until I was 12, then I started playing soccer all year-round," said DiMaggio, who easily leads the Cavaliers with 27 goals this season. "I played second base -- I was all right, but not Joe DiMaggio."
DiMaggio's goal just before the half gave Dorman a 2-1 lead, ending nearly 40 minutes of frustration as the Aiken defense keyed on him.
"He played well," said Dorman coach Carlos Osorio of DiMaggio. "He's our leading scorer this year and he's worked hard. Both our seniors -- Luke and Brian Pedrick -- have been big for us."
Pedrick's header on a throw-in from Andrew Autenzio put Dorman on the board just inside the 26-minute mark.
"Any time we score the first goal, we want to keep it rolling," said Pedrick. "We did that. That's how we won."
But stubborn Aiken (7-12) answered seven minutes later with a goal by Schuyler Rearden that tied the game at 1-1.
Then, 10th-ranked Dorman took over, following DiMaggio's goal with six more unanswered in the second half. Even as Osorio emptied his bench, the Cavaliers pulled away.
"It was a lot of stamina and hard work in the second half," said DiMaggio, whose second goal came on a penalty kick 21 minutes into the second half and put Dorman ahead 4-1.
"It seems like we had a lot more energy in the second half. We were pumped up and ready to go."
Sophomore Chad Cummings came off the bench to score two second-half goals for Dorman. The Cavaliers out-shot Aiken 21-6, including 11-2 in the second half.
"Once we got the fourth goal, I think that was it," said Osorio. "We'd kept the pressure on, but with three goals, I think they felt they were still in it. When we got that fourth goal, it kind of broke their spirit."
Fortner's first goal big one for Broome
Joshua Fortner's first goal of the season, proved to be the game winner as Broome advanced in the 2A soccer playoffs with a 5-2 win at Woodruff.
Fortner, who also added an assist, scored just five minutes into the second half to break a 2-2 tie with the Wolverines.
Joaquin Cristales added three goals for the Centurions. James Talanges scored both goals for Woodruff.
Broome (11-9) will face Emerald in Greenwood on Thursday in the second round.
T.L. Hanna 5, Gaffney 4 (2OT): Cannon Haynes' goal with 40 seconds remaining in the second overtime gave T.L. Hanna a hard-fought win at home over Gaffney in the 4A playoff first round. The Indians rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit with four second-half goals to send the game into extra time. Justin Harris scored with six minutes left and again with just over three minutes left to pull Gaffney (13-6) even. Juan Martinez also scored twice for the Indians and Matt Skinner added three assists.
Chester 2, Greer 1: Adam Wilson scored twice as Chester took a come-from–behind win over Greer in the first round of the 3A playoffs in Chester. Daro Miranda scored unassisted with 13 minutes played to give the Yellow Jackets (7-8) the early lead. Wilson's game winner came with 19 minutes to play in the game.
South Aiken 4, Boiling Springs 0: In Aiken, Jamal Geathers scored four goals as Boiling Springs was eliminated from the 4A playoffs.
Dixie 4, Landrum 0: The Cardinals (4-10) fell behind early at Dixie in the 1A playoffs.
SOCCER
Wilson Hall 3, The King’s Academy 2
SUMTER - Brad Turner’s 21 saves were not enough as The King’s Academy fell to Wilson Hall. Matthew Miele and Rich Walter scored for the Lions.
GOALS - TKA: Matthew Miele, Rich Walter.
ASSIST - TKA: Austin Crane.
KEEPER SAVES- TKA: Brad Turner (21).
RECORD: TKA: 7-3, 7-1.
NEXT GAME: The King’s Academy will play The Byrnes Schools on Friday at 4 p.m. at a site TBD.
Carolina Forest 2, Wilson 1
FLORENCE - Michael Strickland scored two goals and Jake Brown stopped 12 shots as Carolina Forest upset the Tigers.
Wilson finished the season 15-6. Lee Johnson scored Wilson’s only goal and Andy Goforth had 12 saves in the loss.
GOALS- CF: Michael Strickland (2).W: Lee Johnson
KEEPER SAVES- CF: Jake Brown (12). W: Andy Goforth (12).
RECORD:W 15-6.
NEXT GAME: Carolina Forest plays winner of Dreher /North Charleston matchup today.
A timely tune-up, HHP girls head to playoffs with 16-1 regular season mark
BY RYAN O'CONNOR, The Island Packet
Published Thursday, May 5th, 2005
All season long, seniors Margo Lamson and Betsy Gafgen gave it their all in practice only to see limited time in games.
On senior night, Hilton Head Preparatory girls soccer coach Reed Goldsmith made sure Lamson and Gafgen not only got a lot of playing time, but they also got the start.
The two seniors, along with fellow classmate Jenny Lindgren, led the Lady Dolphins to a 6-1 victory over Beaufort Academy on Wednesday in the their final regular season game.
"They don't get to play much," Goldsmith said. "It was nice to see them on the field and being able to contribute. They always work so hard and I'm glad I was able to reward them."
Lindgren, the only other senior on the team, scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Lady Dolphins' scoring attack. Alexandra Fuller, Abby Fennessey, Simone Bruderer and Michelle Mallen all added goals for Hilton Head Prep. Fuller also had two assists and Fennessey, Maddie Rau and Kim Zwerner chipped in with one assist each.
"We played well," said Goldsmith, whose team finished the regular season 16-1. "We controlled the ball. We work on possession all the time. We were aggressive and we were able to keep possession. ... The defense, as always, was pretty solid."
Goldsmith, whose team has yet to lose to a South Carolina school, said the game against Beaufort Academy was a good tune-up for the SCISAA playoffs which begin next week.
The Lady Dolphins, ranked No. 2 in the state, will host a first-round game at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The opponent will be determined later. A victory will give Hilton Head Prep another home playoff game Thursday with that winner advancing to the finals a week from Saturday at Porter-Gaud.
"This was a good tune-up," Goldsmith said. "We now have four days of practice and we will work very, very hard. We're going to do some fine-tuning and working on the things we feel like we need to work on."
The Lady Eagles also will be heading to the playoffs. They will be a No. 1 seed in Class 2-A.
"This was suppose to be a rebuilding year," said Beaufort Academy coach David Byrne, whose team fell to 8-8-1 on the season. "But it turns out I've got a lot of good players who play their hearts out."
Alexis Spearman, a seventh grader, scored her second goal in as many days to give the Lady Eagles a 1-0 lead. Elissa Daley had an assist on the play.
Beaufort Academy boys 5, Hilton Head Prep 2
Nick Strimpfel scored two goals, but it wasn't enough as the Dolphins dropped their second straight game and will miss the playoffs.
Strimpfel, a senior, scored both goals in the first half to tie the game at 2-2 entering halftime.
However, Beaufort Academy scored three goals in the second half to beat the Dolphins for the second time in a week.
"I told the team at halftime that the next goal would be really tough to get and whatever team got it would have the momentum," Hilton Head Prep coach Richard White said. "They got it and they turned it up a notch."
Ben Reidmayer scored two goals for the Eagles (8-5).
"They've been playing well lately," Beaufort Academy coach Eric Pullen said of his team. "Coaches say that you build for the playoffs in the last two or three weeks of the regular season. They really have. They have just improved every game this season."
Hilton Head Prep finishes the season at 5-10.
"I loved their effort all season," White said. "They couldn't have run faster or harder than they do."
EHS strikes quick -- Lady Vikes score early, often and beat Gilbert
May 5, 2005
By RON COX, Index-Journal sports writer
It took the Emerald High School girls soccer team slightly more than 13 minutes to pick up their first goal Wednesday night against Gilbert.
But the Lady Vikings scored three goals over the next 13 minutes en route to an 8-2 win over the Lady Indians in the second round of the Class AA/A playoffs.
“We came off of five good days of practice and we knew what was expected, but I think we may have been a little bit too excited to start out because it’s playoff time,” Emerald assistant coach Gary Winchester said.
“I think we needed that first goal to settle us down a bit. From that point on, we played little bits and pieces of some great soccer.”
That first goal came in the 13th minute when junior forward Kasie Sears took a centering pass from sister Kayla, and then kicked it out to Erika Bishop, who blasted the ball past Gilbert keeper Katie Lambries.
“It was a big relief,” said Kasie Sears, about getting the first goal.
Less than a minute after that score, Sears picked up the first of her three goals, with a header off an Alex Bishop corner kick, putting Emerald up 2-0.
This was the Emerald’s third win over Gilbert this season, with the previous two coming by a combined score of 20-0.
With the win, the Lady Vikings (16-3) help the team advance to Friday’s Class AA Upper State semifinal game where they will travel to Woodruff. The Lady Wolverines knocked off Ninety Six, 5-1, Wednesday.
Emerald and Woodruff split their two games this season, with the home team winning each time.
“We know how they’re going to set out and we know what to expect from them,” Winchester said.
“We know we match up well with (Woodruff). We’re going to work hard at practice tomorrow, and we’ll just see what happens.”
Emerald freshman Corinne Burdette gave the Lady Vikings all the scoring they would eventually need in the 26th minute.
Midfielder Lacy Hastings, who just minutes earlier took off her knee brace and threw it to the sidelines, lofted a high centering pass from the right corner. Burdette found the pass and headed the ball past Lambries.
On the play, the Gilbert keeper slammed into the left post, injuring her leg.
Lambries, who finished with eight saves, lasted five more minutes before being pulled for Elizabeth Killen.
Sears picked up her second goal in the 36th minute. The junior forward stepped in front of a goal kick and drove in to the penalty box, but she was taken down before taking a shot, earning her a penalty kick.
Sears drilled the PK past Killen to give Emerald a 4-0 at the half.
“I was pleased with what I did out there today,” Sears said. “I could have done a couple of things better, but overall I’m happy.”
The Lady Vikings struck quickly in the second half, scoring a pair of goals within the first 10 minutes.
Erika Bishop opened the scoring by driving in from near midfield and blasting a 15-yard shot into the right corner of the net.
Three minutes later, Hastings knocked in a rebound from the top of the penalty box for a 6-0 lead.
The Sears sisters each added a goal to finish out Emerald’s scoring. Kasie’s 42nd goal of the season came in the 59th minute and Kayla’s less than 60 seconds later.
Emerald coach Paul Dodd pulled all of his starters but two (Patterson and Burdette) with 15 minutes remaining.
The Lady Wolverines managed a pair of goals against the Lady Vikings’ second team.
TRAVELERS REST 1 (5), CLOVER 1 (4) -- In a girls soccer duel between two similar teams, 80 minutes proved insufficient to determine a victor between Clover and Travelers Rest. So, the teams headed to an overtime period, and when that decided nothing, they headed to another. And another. And another. With a berth in the Upper State semifinals hanging in the balance, the teams remained deadlocked at 1 after 110 minutes, forcing a shootout. Again, the squads met each other shot for shot, with each team attempting eight before Travelers Rest ultimately broke the tie, winning the shootout 5-4. "We couldn't ask for anything any better than what we did tonight," Clover coach Leann Mellon said, still pleased with the Lady Blue Eagles' performance despite the loss. "We went all the way down to the eighth penalty kick; there's nothing bad we can say. The teams were evenly matched, and we haven't played an evenly matched team all year." Shots were scarce in regulation, with neither team registering a solid shot on goal in the first half. Travelers Rest finally capitalized on a rare opportunity in the 51st minute, after Erika Godwin deposited a rebound in the back of the net. With less than ten minutes remaining, Clover evened the ledger. After Kelsie Hall was taken out in the box, Britta Widenhouse converted the penalty for the equalizer, forcing extra time. "I was very impressed; this was the very best game that they've played all season," Mellon said. "They played like a team and took shots from all over the field. They played man-to-man better than they have all season -- easily the best game that they've had."
Lady Yellow Jackets cruise to easy win
By Michael O'Brien Herald Correspondent
(Published May 5‚ 2005)
FORT MILL -- The offensive juggernaut known as the Fort Mill Lady Yellow Jackets kept churning along Wednesday, pounding visiting Byrnes 7-2 in the second round of the Class AAAA soccer playoffs.
Paced by Jennifer Ficklen and Amanda Grayson, the Jackets turned in an especially efficient night on offense, netting seven goals on just 18 shots.
Byrnes played a respectable game defensively, but Fort Mill was too precise when given the opportunities and took advantage of nearly every chance presented.
"I think that the sign of a good team is one that can capitalize on their chances," Fort Mill coach Jim Finnerty said. "We showed real courage on our goals getting into the box and crashing the goal hard."
Crashing the net wasn't necessary on the first score of the night.
Ficklen, after being fouled just inside the Lady Rebels' side of midfield, put Fort Mill up 1-0 when her direct kick from 50 yards away had keeper Kelsey Otero fooled, causing her to take two steps toward the ball only to realize she misjudged it and try to backpeddle to catch the shot. She couldn't recover and the ball sailed right over her head at the 21:00 mark.
After Danielle Schmitt's breakaway goal put Fort Mill up 2-0 six minutes later, Grayson got the first of her three assists on a corner kick.
This one found a perfectly positioned Ficklen on the back post, who headed the ball home.
Grayson nabbed her own goal two minutes later when Schmitt collected the ball at the top of the penalty box and with a flick, beat both her defender and a charging Otero. After the ball was bounced around the penalty area, it ended up on Grayson's foot and with no one left to defend the goal, she knocked it in and the Jackets led 4-0 at halftime.
"We definitely were more focused and intense than in the first-round game," Finnerty said.
Grayson's second of four assists led to the first goal of the second half, hitting a streaking Nicole Bainbridge on an overlapping run down the sideline that freed her for a one-on-one with Otero, which she buried to make the score 5-0 at the eight-minute mark.
After Byrnes got on the board to make it 5-1, the Ficklen-Grayson corner combo struck again in the 58th minute to increase it to 6-1.
Grayson answered another Byrnes tally with a corner kick that found the head of Rachel Claypool to close out the scoring.
"My team is very good in the air," Finnerty said. "Corners are probably our strength and they are great opportunities to score. As we go further in the playoffs and the teams get even better, set pieces are going to be important."
Fort Mill will get more chances at those set pieces when they host South Aiken in the Upper State semifinals Friday.
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Eastside slips past Greenville
Adam Davis, STAFF WRITER
Before her team's soccer match against Greenville Wednesday night, Eastside forward Lauren Reader left the blue tape on her index finger blank.
Perhaps next time she should write the word "score."
"We wear tape on our fingers, and you can put whatever you want to on the tape, to say what you're gonna do that's gonna make us go to state," Reader explained after the match.
In this case, the tale of the tape was No. 4 Eastside beating No. 3 Greenville 1-0 at Sirrine Stadium, with Reader scoring the only goal. The win moves Eastside (19-5) into Round 3 of the Class AAA playoffs.
In the 25th minute of the second half, with the Eagles swimming mostly upstream, Reader headed in a perfect cross by midfielder Kimberly Ruck. The rest was left to the "crush more," which Reader said is the term for the Eagles' back four and their goalkeeper, Michelle Rankin.
"We crush them, and we keep them out," Reader explained.
Ironically, Eastside had its most consistent pressure in the first half, while the Raiders (16-4) controlled much of the play after the break. But the Eagles kept their net clean.
Eastside coach Andy Robinson said his strategy was to play the ball long to relieve the pressure, and eventually it paid off. Ruck got free on the right side and lofted a high cross into the center. Reader got the ball with her head before goalkeeper Emma Sorrells could get a hand on it, and the ball bounced into the net.
"I was not expecting it at all," Reader said. "After it happened, I had no idea that I had scored. It was just kind of like a dream."
While Eastside capitalized on its best chance, Greenville had four near misses. In the first half, Cassidy Connett boomed a free kick from 35 yards, but Rankin deflected it off the crossbar and out. In the second half, Lauren Scovel's shot from 8 yards went right to Rankin; Christina Palma's header from a similar spot went just wide right; and in the final minute, Flynn Jameson's shot from 25 yards dropped just over the crossbar.
"We played well," Greenville coach Farlin DaSilva said. "We had our chances, and that's the way this is sometimes, is that you need to get lucky. ... It kind of hurts a little bit for the seniors that we have on the team, but they've had good careers here at Greenville High School, and I'm really proud of them."
For Eastside, the victory offers a jolt of momentum. Reader said it shows her team can beat anyone. Robinson said Greenville is a "phenomenal" team, and he hopes the victory will give his team more respect.
"You don't get too many bigger wins than this, to come in here with (Greenville's) senior class and their coaches and come out with a win," Robinson said. "You find your four-leaf clover when you get home and laminate it."
GIRLS SOCCER
Class AAAA Playoffs/Second Round
Mauldin 6, Greenwood 0 Goals: Webb 3, Kelley, Letz, Fisher. Assists — C. Borkey, Robinson. Shutout: Lanfear. Records: Mauldin 21-1-1.
Class AAA Playoffs/Second Round
Riverside 4, JL Mann 0 Goals: H. Templer, J. Templer, Escobar, Graves. Assists — Dixon 2, Wampole. Records: Riverside 19-3. Note: Riverside will play again Friday night.
Wade Hampton 3, AC Flora 2 Goals: WH: Scott 2, Robertson. Assists — WH: Robertson. Saves — WH: Norris 5. Records: Wade Hampton 15-4.
Class AA/A Playoffs
Christ Church 5, Swansea 1 Goals: CC: McCall 3, Harrill, Offerle. S: Carroll. Assists — CC: Offerle, Harrill, Fisher.
Southside Christian 2, Pendleton 0 Goals — Gray. Assists — Babainicz. Shutout — Lieghtner. Records: Southside Christian 10-6, Pendleton 9-7.
Thursday, May 5, 2005
Big second half propels Mauldin girls soccer team
David Hood, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MAULDIN — Chelsea Webb has found a new home.
Two games into a move that saw her switch positions, from center midfielder to forward, Webb has notched two hat tricks, the latest coming in a 6-0 victory that saw Webb's Mauldin Mavericks girl's soccer team advance over Greenwood in the second round of the Class AAAA Upper State playoffs.
The Lady Mavericks, on a goal by Webb, came out of halftime with a 1-0 lead over the Lady Eagles. But in the second half, Mauldin had better ball movement, grabbed momentum and never looked back into cruising to the easy victory, propelling the Lady Mavericks into a probable rematch against Dorman Friday night, a team they have beaten twice already this season.
"I haven't really scored all season, until the last couple of games," Webb said of her recent scoring surge. "In warm ups, we were talking about how we wanted to get focused in the second half, and I think we did that. We also wanted to get the shutout, which has been a goal of ours, to get a shutout in the state playoffs, and we did that. It was a good night."
Mauldin head coach Gwynne Armstrong said Webb played well, but it has been team play that separates this team from the teams that have finished second in the state for three consecutive seasons.
"It was an awesome game, and Chelsea played excellent," Armstrong said. "But everybody got to play, and the whole team performed well, it was just clicking tonight. We don't have one superstar, we just play well together, and that is the difference this year than year's past. These girls just have a drive to finish first."
Greenwood head coach George Sugden was proud his team was close at halftime, but feels like his team gave the Lady Mavericks too much respect in the second half.
"I wish we could have stopped the game at halftime," Sugden said. "We just had problems on both ends of the field in the second half. But we just let them come out and take charge, and I think we gave them too much respect, which is something we had talked about, but we still let them do it."
In addition to Webb's three goals, the Lady Mavericks got goals from Heidi Lentz, Kim Kelley and Madison Fisher.
"That 1-0 lead was not much of a halftime lead," Armstrong said. "In fact, it was kind of scary, but we picked it up in the second half. It took a while to click, but we just got the momentum, and it obviously all happened in the second half."
Beaufort's run ends
Published Thursday May 5 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Beaufort High School girls soccer team ran out of magic.
Following their upset of West Florence High School in the first round of the AAAA state soccer playoffs, the Lady Eagles came up short against defending state champ Wando High School on Wednesday evening. The Lady Warriors blew out their two-goal halftime lead and earned a 6-1 victory to advance to the third round.
"They played really well," BHS coach David Fess. "They're a great team."
Leading 2-0 at the break, the Lady Warriors never looked back.
Bailey Morris scored for the Lady Eagles (7-11), and Amanda McDougall made 11 stops.
"They did a great job to close the season," Fess said of his team. "They played hard tonight."
