High School Soccer Media -
GREENVILLE, SC -- The 2006 CESA North-South Soccer Classic was held Saturday, June 17 at Furman University's Stone Soccer Stadium in Greenville, S.C. This annual event is coordinated through the efforts of the South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association and the title sponsor from 2005-09 will be the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy based out of Greenville.
This was the first year that both the boys and girls games were held in the Upstate after Mount Pleasant was the host city from 1989-2005 for the boys match and from 2000-05 for the girls game. The first three All-Star games for the girls were held in Greer from 1997-99.
The girls match was a one-sided affair as the North squad, coached by Gwynne Armstrong (J.L. Mann) and Chris Fryland (Lexington) rolled to a 7-0 victory vs. the South team. Forward Blakely Mattern of J.L. Mann led the North's team attack with a goal and three assists and Fort Mill's Danielle Schmitt collected a pair of goals in the most lopsided result ever in the Classic's history. Emerald's Erika Bishop, Riverside's Robin Putnam and Aiken's Ellie Victor also tallied goals and the trio of Jessica Binkley (Hillcrest), Liz Ostrander (Fort Mill), and Kelli Whitfield (T.L. Hanna) combined for the shutout. The 10-year series is now tied at 5-5-0 between the two sides and the North's victory was its first since 2003.
GIRLS -- North 7-0 South
Shots -- N 16, S 10
Corner Kicks -- N 5, S 8
Saves -- N 6, S 5
Fouls -- N 7, S 6
FIRST HALF
21:23, N - Robin Putnam (Blakely Mattern), 1-0 N
41:02, N - Danielle Schmitt (Carmen Osorio), 2-0 N
41:53, N - Erika Bishop, 3-0 N
44:21, N - Schmitt (Mattern), 4-0 N
SECOND HALF
67:50, N - Ellie Victor (Mattern), 5-0 N
73:10, N - Mattern, 6-0 N
80:29, N - own goal, 7-0 N
Team Captains (selected by teammates) -- North, Erika Bishop (Emerald) & Blakely Mattern (J.L. Mann); South, Meredith Calcina (Brookland-Cayce) & Sarah Catenacci (Wando).
The boys game was one of the most exciting All-Star matches the North-South Soccer Classic has produced as the South team, coached by Kevin Heise (Brookland-Cayce) and Ben Schoen (Waccamaw) rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to slip past the North squad, 3-2. South Aiken forward Jamal Geathers staked the Upstate representatives to 2-0 advantage in the first 15 minutes on assists from Greenville's Jack Johnston and Aiken's Schuyler Rearden at the 5:18 and 14:40 marks, respectively. Dreher goalkeeper George Rushe made two point-blank saves by Eastside's Kevin Ruck and South Aiken's Branson Hyatt midway through the first half to keep the scoreline from getting any larger. However, the South team seemed to find itself during intermission as Ridge View's Kyle Hughes connected on the first of his two scores at the 67:30 mark when Irmo's Zach Prince found the striker at the top of the box and Hughes rocketed the ball into the back of the net. Three minutes later it was Hughes again, who launched onto a rebounded pass from James Island's J.T. Walters to tie the score at 2-2. Moments later, an apparent goal by the North squad was wiped away due to an offsides call and with 10 minutes to play the match remained tied. Then, with just under 1 1/2 minutes remaining, Prince went through on a well played ball but was brought down by Lexington goalkeeper Ty Osborne, who was cautioned and the South team was awarded a penalty kick. Prince calmly stepped to the penalty spot and whipped the ball into the left side of the goal for the game-winning score. The victory was the second-straight for the South squad, which trails the 18-year series, 10-6-2.
BOYS -- South 3-2 North
Shots: N 15; S 12.
Corner Kicks: N 4; S 6.
Saves: N 5; S 4.
Fouls: N 10; S 12.
Caution: N (Osborne, 89').
FIRST HALF
5:18 - Jamal Geathers (Jack Johnston), 1-0 N
14:40 - Geathers (Schuyler Rearden), 2-0 N
SECOND HALF
67:30 - Kyle Hughes (Zach Prince), 2-1 N
70:49 - Hughes (JT Walters), 2-2
88:38 - Prince (penalty kick), 3-2 S
Team Captains (selected by teammates) -- North, Ty Osborne (Lexington) & Schuyler Rearden (Aiken); South, Kyle Hughes (Ridge View) & Kevin Ros (Brookland-Cayce).
Thanks for your coverage of prep soccer!
Kyle Heise
www.scsoccer.com==============
