|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 266
Corner Kick
|
OP
Corner Kick
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 266 |
Saturday, 7PM, Memorial Stadium, Columbia
Irmo Yellow Jackets (24-0) v. Wando Warriors (25-4)
This has always been a Great Rivalry. Irmo is making their 3rd straight trip to the Championship.....Wando's first trip since 2002.
Looking back since 2000:
Wando's last State Championship was 2002....a (Controversial) 3-2 OT victory over Irmo. Irmo won in 2000 (Over Ridge View), and Back to Back in 2003 and 2004 (Over Northwestern).
Irmo has ended Wando's Season 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010.
Wando ended Irmo's Season in 2002 and 2006.
Common Opponents in 2011:
Cardinal Newman:
3-5: Irmo 4 CN 1
4-20: CN 3 Wando 2
Ridge View
3-11: Irmo 5 RV 0
4-11: Irmo 2 RV 1
5-10: Wando 5 RV 0
Lexington
2-26: Wando 5 Lex 2
3-15: Irmo 3 Lex 1
4-8: Irmo 2 Lex 1
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 266
Corner Kick
|
|
OP
Corner Kick
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 266 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 75
throw in
|
|
throw in
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 75 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103
goal kick
|
|
goal kick
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103 |
Is everyone else as excited as I am about this one? In my opinion this is the PREMIER rivalry in SC boy's high school soccer. These two teams love to hate one another with every game always seem to be carrying massive stakes. Last time these too met up in a state championship the scene was eerily similar in 2002 with Irmo undefeated and possessing the #1 ranking in the country. Wando pulled the win in the infamous "too much stoppage time", winning an extra-time thriller. Really think this one could go either way. Irmo is probably the favorite going in, buuut Wando proved back in '02 that anything is possible in the final. Irmo and Wando have generated soo many classic games, can't wait to see how things happen on Saturday. Midweek prediction...
Irmo 3
Wando 2
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062
brace
|
|
brace
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062 |
A great rivalry, no doubt. But "love to hate?"
Check out Facebook. Most of these kids are friends and teammates from club/Academy/ODP/etc.
I'm sure they'll go at it hammers and tongs ... as they should. Bu really, only the parents are ignorant enough to hold a grudge.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103
goal kick
|
|
goal kick
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103 |
On a personal level, off the field, these guys probably don't have a problem with each other as they shouldn't. But when the jersey's are on and the players step on the pitch, Irmo/Wando is about as intense of a match up as you'll find. So I don't mean hate in that they take it personally, but Wando and Irmo most definitely do not like each other when playing against each other. If there's one team I know Irmo does not ever want to lose to as far as the fans, alumni, players and coaches....it's Wando.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062
brace
|
|
brace
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062 |
The word you're groping for is RESPECT. Mutual, I might add.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103
goal kick
|
|
goal kick
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 103 |
Yes each program has a great level of respect for one another but you're joking yourself if you don't think this rivalry possesses an extremely high level of dislike for one another.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062
brace
|
|
brace
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,062 |
OK, OK, I'll go with dislike.
Like I said, they'll go at it hard, AS THEY SHOULD. It's for a state championship. I'm sure there will be fouls, agitation, etc. I don't expect a sing-along at halftime. But let's not play this up as a Holy War. Let's play it up as a showcase event for 2 of the top programs in the state, NEITHER of which has won a state championship in some time.
I'm really looking forward to it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Goal
|
|
Goal
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451 |
The 2002 game had remarkable similarities as this game sets up for Saturday. I am almost positive Irmo entered the game unbeaten and ranked #1 nationally while Wando had 3 or 4 losses(one of them to us at Fort D-one of our biggest wins ever).
About 10 mins into the second half,Irmo went up 2-0 as the Wando keeper(long blonde hair) slipped trying to react to a nice shot from range which did find the net. Wando got one back about 15 mins from time, but with about 6 or 7 mins left, Irmo started to launch balls out of bounds--several left Memorial Stadium. The last few mins the center ref pointed to his watch reacting to coaches asking for time (as if to say to the Irmo bench, time was being added). It was rather heated the last couple of mins and Wando tied the game and still a minute or so was played on the re-start.
The first two overtimes were very even, but many players and Irmo fans(in my opinion) were too concerned that the game was in overtime.
During the first(I believe) sudden death 5 min OT,Wando scored from a nice header delivered from a corner, and so ended one of the most exciting high school matches I have ever seen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
