SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer South Aiken - Irmo

This is gonna be a great championship game. Any predictions? my guess is SA 3-2 second overtime. They dominated NW after the first 10 min.

SA 2-1 over Irmo, i don't think either team is goin to score 3 or more goals should be very close

SA by 2

i think Jamal will pull out the victory for South Aiken...i just dont think irmo can stop him...score: 3-1 South Aiken

See my earlier post.
Irmo by XX points. They don't/won't lose at this point.

MC

It is really hard for me to say that Irmo is gonna lose but, South Aiken is playing really good soccer and is gonna be very hard for anyone to beat. Personaly i would like to see South Aiken play against Eastside.

Irmo already beat eastside, so if they beat SA, they will be the best team in the state!

soccerboy,
Irmo beat Eastside early in season, when the best Eastside players were at Score at Shore.
The SA-Irmo game will be a war - 2 good keeps, 2 good scorers, 2 good defenses, it will all come down to the midfields. SA may be stronger in mid.
If Irmo cannot handle Jamal SA 3 Irmo 2
If Irmo can handle Jamal Irmo 2 SA 1.

Yeah Soccerboy,

Eastside was missing at least 6 starters earlier this year. They are definitely much stronger with those players. good luck to all the teams playing this weekend. The 4A game should be a very good game. If Jamal comes to play like he has since the playoffs started, I think SA will win.

Has anyone here done a comparison of State Championship opponents' records and rankings vs. who ends up winning the final match, i.e., does the record/ranking of the teams going into the state championship match reflect the outcome?

The good thing about S. Aiken is they have more then one player that can score at any time. Yes Jamal is without a doubt a high level player however S. Aiken has a hand full of players who have at least five goals. Ian Q. Joey S, Rob S, Craig G, Steven R, Branson H, even Jordan Q off the bench has a number of goals. Everyone has tried to stop Jamal all year some teams have and some teams have not but all but one team lost in the attempt. (Actually 2 SA did have a tie this year as well) The problem isn't stopping Jamal from scoring its stopping S.Aiken from Scoring. Commit to many players to Jamal and you will get burned by a number of other players don’t commit enough to stopping Jamal and he will burn you. The other side to the SA coin is Goose. THE BEST GK TO EVER COME OUT OF SC. Period... Lets not start blowing the A Moody horn. Moody is a good keeper and a smart player but no Mike G.

Phil Savitz is a proven expert at having his teams prepared for this game. The record speaks for itself. He has a very good team and has managed to win the big one with less talent then what he has this yr. SA beat them 2-1 earlier this season, which would be an advantage for Irmo. I would love to know if any team has ever-beat Irmo twice in one year. My guess is that it doesn't happen very often. Can SA be that team? We will find out. Good luck to both teams.

It will be a war! Can't wait to see who wins.

irmo will win 3-2. jamal will have 2.

Irmo loss to Sa.. but with a redcard early in the first half and jamal cramping throughout the game it should be a true match- each team playing for it all.

This game will be played at the "Grave Yard", correct?

yes, correct

hey ghostman, let's not forget about Ryan Rimando off that bench. He did show flashes of brilliance at the NW game. The kid has a great attitude from playing with him in the past, and i cant wait to see him at his best.

No doubt, Ryan played extremely well against NW and has done a great job all year. Didn't mean to leave him out along with the Smith boys, Bret D. TJ and the rest of the TEAM. Congrats to Coach Waters and his staff for leading the T-Breds to the finals.

i dont know much about SA...but i do know about Irmo, and i cant imagine anyone in the state having a better midfield, Irmo has sonny (however you spell it), christian monroe, and spencer lewis in the middle, itll be hard for SA to match up with that, but once again i dont know SA's formation or who else they got besides geathers and the goalie.

im gonna say SA over Irmo 3-2 in OT

Depends on if Coach Waters picks the starting line up out of his hat like he has done all year long. Seems to work for him.

hey dude you need to chill out on our coach. ya'll always say crap about him that he doesn't deserve. he is darn good, just look at his record while he has been here. yeah we have alot of talent but talent doesn't get you anywhere w/o good coaching. i'm probably going to get in trouble for posting this but i'm sick and tired of people raggin on him and saying that he is a terrible coach. lay off

SA chill. It was a joke. I know Paul and in fact am a good friend of his. Someone wrote this crap at the beginning of the year. I am just making fun of that being said earlier by someone who does not know Paul. But good to see your loyalty to Paul. Good Luck SAT

sagk1 is steve francis not goose

Irmo's midfield is excellent. Christian Monroe is an excellent player and doesn't get the credit he deserves. Spencer is excellent and will be playing with Goose and Jamal next year for the Cock's. Sony is a baller. Played for a National Championship as the starting attacking center midfielder for the fire. Now plays for the New State Champions CESA. I would give Irmo's midfield the edge over everyone's. SA midfield is not as strong however what they lack in ability (And its not a huge gap) they make up with strength, speed, and hustle. I would say that SA would be very competitive vs. Irmo in the midfield.

Irmo 2- SA 0
Irmo is cleary the best team in the state hands down...and nobody can beat them right now...

Anybody is beatable anyday of the week. I think it will be a great game and a close game.

Least you forget ghostwriter18... several of the SA boys were also on that team. Mr. Hyatt and Mr. Gulick, I believe will take care of business. Hyatt hasn't been given any credit whatsoever. He'll be leavin' it at the field come this Saturday. Jamal on the other hand is only a junior and will be returning next year. The defense of SA will rock and the great walls of Irmo will come tumbling down.


green is not looking very well on most of you....

I don't really agree with everything ghostwrite said about Irmo's mid.

For one, Soni is given too much credit for what he does. Yeah, he is a presence in the middle, but good god is he slow. He got beat almost everytime in the DF game and made a lot of unforced erros in passing.

Spencer is solid, but easy to push around. He does have some of the best free kicks in the state though. Same with Monroe.

Clayton on the left is fast a good with the ball at his feet.

And darn Jeff's throw.

As for Zack, just score on him once and you'll ruin his game.

kiddinu402
Registered Member
Member # 1729

Rate Member posted May 12, 2005 11:12 PM
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sagk1 is steve francis not goose


Isn't "Steve Francis" a basketball player...lol I think it's Craig Francis so yeah.

I haven't seen South Aiken. I'm a DF fan. I tell you what. Is hard to beat Irmo.

I played againts them. They're Irmo man. Savitz is the deal.

Prinze is good. That number 3 controlls the game. Monroe, and Moody are good too.

I don't have a favorite but since I live in Irmo, I expect Irmo to represent our town just like they always do.

South Aiken needs more than one player to win this game. Good luck to both teams.

SA probably has 2 of the best players in all of south carolina, maybe some of the best ever. But as a team, Irmo is excellent, and there is no one that tops them. Sani (the correct spelling) christian, spencer, and whoever else plays in the middle with them do make up the best midfield i've seen in a while, and every other aspect of their team is excellent. I think that Irmo takes this one 3-2 with Prince scoring 2, and jamal scoring 2.

Then again, it will be tough for even prince to score against goose, and if the tight end plays up top again for irmo, they will be in trouble. (he is the only player that hasn't lived up to IRMO expectations in any game that i have seen)

Does anyone have any opinion on the effect of playing on a wider field than one or both teams may be accustomed to playing on? Do you think it will be to the advantage or disadvantage of one team or the other?

Advantage for Irmo. They use the whole field. Their system is perfect to play in long fields. Irmo is just the best High School soccer I've ever seen. What a great program. What a great coach!

litte biased there fenomeno?

SA is loaded from the front to the back...they are gonna make Irmo work hard to stay in the game Sat!

Agreed soccerdfner16. South Aiken is good all around. But I think that Irmo is "more" loaded.

I think Fenomeno is a DF supporter, he was against Irmo in the last game!

I honestly don't see how Irmo is that "loaded." I'm just hearing a lot of hatred toward South Aiken. Northwestern was supposedly "loaded" and South Aiken dominated after the Arroyo goal. I say SA 3-1 Irmo

While I agree that SA will when this game, your reasoning is alittle off base. NW was not loaded. They overachieved this year like they have in years past. I took a look at their website the other day and noticed only 3 seniors listed. When you look at their stats, none of the seniors registered any stats really. Next year, they bring back everyone, but one starter and could be considered loaded then.

Irmo however is loaded. They have two players who have already committed to USC. Monroe will definitely play somewhere. Not sure where Sani is headed, but it will probably be quality. Plus they have 12 or more seniors on their roster. So it appears that they are loaded.

SA wins.. or the tides of darkness return!

Lowerstate,
South Aiken also has two players committed to South Carolina. Geathers and Gustavson, will both play for USC as well. Should be fun.

Dudeman,
Why do you fear the yellow plaque so much? SA has to win or else the Irmo players/coaches will react as they did in 2002 when they lost to Wando...

Well if seniors means you're loaded, I believe South Aiken is "half-way loaded," and in your case would make them an overachieving team, which in my opinion is bogus. Whatever they get they deserve and a state championship is most deserving. Half of the players have played with each other for years in classic club soccer and know each other very well (Goose, Gulick, Spencer, Sucher, Smith, etc.)...plus those that played club ball didn't overachieve when they made it to the National Championship

L-E, is that the game where the ref told Savitz there was 30 seconds left, then let the game go on another couple minutes, anyway? (maybe because he was enjoying the match so much?)

..maybe..I get it confused with the one that they said the center ref was a Spanish teacher at Dorman.. you know how it is.. when people lose.. they say all sorts of crazy things!

Being from L-E, you would be very experienced about losing, Jack. But please don't comment on what you know nothing about; what it feel like to play for a championship, either winning or losing.

In my defense.. the guy from Flora brought-up the Wando game.. and dude from the Low Country brought-up the specifics of the match..

..touchy touchy..

I am assuming that everyone on here has some kind of soccer experience. Any team can win or lose on any given day, and everyone, even the best players, has a bad game. But, take a coach who has led his teams to 27 championship games and come away with 22 of them..who can dispute that! Savitz is the real deal and he can take players and motivate them and make them Championship teams. A team is not about a player..they may factor in, but no team wins with just one all star. That is why Irmo wins. Savitz knows how to build a team. And there is not one player on this year's team, or any other for that matter, who doesn't play like a champion. I do not and never have played for him or Irmo, but I would've liked to benefit from his teaching. This is an opinion based on numbers, based on stats and based on experience being beat up by him. ha ha. I wouldn't want to go up against any of them with the "power" he has instilled in them. Whether it is Christian, Sani, Spencer, Moody, Zach or the Tight End. Who know who will win and who will lose today, the point is Savitz is a winner and so are his players.

guest1425... you are a class act. Whether being from Irmo or not, I agree with you. Thank you for saying it so eloquently.

Yes, touchy. Was there 3 years ago, my son was one of the 5 (?) who stood up at midfield while Wando was being honored, although he felt cheated by the ref also. No offense meant to others at L-E.

I was there also..one of the greatest HS matches I've seen..


..should be another classic tonight.

i hope so...it'll be the first time i've been to a state championship when i wasn't affiliated with either team.

Congrats to SA. You have a quick and very, very rough team. Irmo played very poorly though, had one goal that the official clearly missed, and still had chances to tie. Irmo just could not break through because of the SA roughness.

If you let one side get physical, you have to let both sides.

actually...that wasnt a goal contrary to all the irmo fan's opinions, i was on the goal line and it never crossed, savitz wasnt argueing that it crossed either, he as argueing a possible hand ball or hold, never the less Irmo should kick themselves for not finishing that chance, and once again for the record the ball never crossed the line.

Your eyes are better than mine and many others then. I could not tell what he was arguing because of the noise level but the official sure did pull the yellow card out fast.

SA has a good team but this years Irmo team does not measure up to past teams. They were very inconsistent in the playoffs, never really playing a complete game from start to finish.

I have to give South Aiken credit. They came out hard at the get-go; and, as much as I hate to admit it, I feel that they played a better game, overall.

Geathers is an awesome player - I feel for the Irmo player who had to go against him most of the time, but he did about as good a job as anybody could have.

The SA keeper is very good - his arms looked like they stretched ten feet on some plays - there cannot be many keepers in the state who could get to some of the balls he did.

Irmo fought hard to get back in the game, but the SA defense just did not give them many opportunities.

I would not say that Irmo played poorly, but there were definitely some things they did not do well - like crossing the ball. I don't know how many times they crossed it directly to the keeper. You just can't score like that.

Anyway, again, South Aiken played great - very impressed with their hustle and their skill. Congratulations.

Off Sides, when Savitz goes off like that, you know it's a big one...he was definitely saying that an Irmo player was being held back by a SA player. The ref was already po'd at the Irmo camp after two or three of them jumped down his throat early in the game. He warned Savitz that he didn't want to hear anything else out of them - only Savitz.

I love it we win states and you all say it is becasue irmo had a bad game. Think about this one... could they have played poorly due to the team they were playing? I must say I am biased becasue i am a starter for SA, but I also feel that you people should give us respect for our accomplishments. We beat Northwestern and Irmo, which all of you said we couldnt do. The goal you are all saying was a goal. I do agree it looked like one while i was on the feild, however on the news (Channel 6 out of Augusta) it clearly showed that the ball was a good 1 1/2 to two yards off of the line. Thanks to my team, our fans, coaches and Irmo you played a good game.

Offsides... give Irmo a break! I'm so glad you were on the field with them. They fought hard. Can you actually give another team credit for winning instead of ridiculing your own team. Aiken was rough? How about Irmo? IT'S SOCCER. Congrats SA for a phenomenal year. The same to you Irmo! you both represent this state well!

Great job, SA! Both teams represent this state well. Give cedit where credit is do...Off Sides... Irmo was just as capable as years past. I guess it looks a whole lot different from down on the field.

Irmo & SA you both played great. Unfortunately, someone wins and someone loses. That doesn't mean both teams aren't winners outright. That SA goalie gave us a run for our money. He will be something else in college. Very impressive and one of the only players from SA to actually stand and clap as each of the Irmo players got their medals and trophy. That's class. As for Phil Savitz, folks it was a handball in the box. Just clarifying that, since I heard it from him and the other coaches. The linesman on our side was terrible. Never even called any of the throw ins. Just threw his flag straight in the air and let the center ref call them. That's not good. All in all a great game! Y'all can dispute the goal or not...doesn't matter. It's over...for this year..But Phil isn't done yet. Oh, and just to let y'all know..SA's coach came over after the game and told Phil.."I don't know how we did it, you guys beat the SH*# out of us!!! Thanks coach, that was a great compliment. Congrats SA..to Irmo - you guys are the real deal..always have been, always will be.

Cograts SA.. Whatever else is written on this board doesn't matter.... there were 11 players on that field at all times. 1 player did not win this game! ...and to let you players know... you beat them{ kick the sh### out of them} forwards mids, defense, goalie... ITS SA MAGIC.. SA Rocks...! no excuses soccermom4eva your boys were good but ours happened to be better... so say GREAT JOB SA!

Congrats SA, i was pulling for irmo, and i couldn't really tell from where i was if anything happened in the box. I think people are over looking one very important thing. I never seen such a young player come into a game and make an impact like that...that #19 for irom..jugal something..he is gonna be good...get him some more playin time guys. He played well tonight under the pressure of the state championshp game..i am suprised nobody else has said anythign about him.

This is Coach Savitz from Irmo.
I wanted to express again my congratulations to South Aiken on a well played, exciting 4A match. I think both teams have much to be proud of this game and this year!

Coach Savitz can you explain why Irmo walked down the sidelines after receiving the Lower State trophy and turning your backs on the State Champions? We came down to watch the Eastside game but hung around to watch Irmo-SA and couldn't believe that Irmo just walked away. I'm sure there are alot of other teams that would have loved to be in your spot. After all, your still a champion, but just not the state's #1. Just seems a strange time for a team meeting when the champions are receiving their gold medals.

Always Right, I don't recall that happening... Both teams are class acts, and im pretty sure that Irmo hung around on the field longer than SA.

class act? Irmo? the same team that threw away their medals three years ago when we beat them? i didn't see the games yesterday, but i know they can't stand ending the season on a losing note. Irmo needs to learn how to lose with grace.

I assume that was the Wando game, and that game was definitely decided by the refs...similar to last night.

It's hard to "lose with grace" when you feel like you've played two opponents at the same time.

To SA's credit, they played a similar game to Wando...a little bit of skill with a whole lot of physical play. The ref finally starting blowing the whistle in the second half, but the damage was done.

The refs let these games turn into something other than soccer.

Gimme a break New Refs. Yes South Aiken plays physical, but Irmo was playing against two opponents? You've absolutely got to be kidding me. Every time Jamal had his back to an Irmo defender they would just ram into him and throw a forearm into his back. But unlike Irmo players, he took it like a man and just played. I've never seen a more fragile player than Sani H. He's got great ball skills, but he must have fallen double digit times after barely being touched or taking a light tackle. South Aiken played hard and fair, they didn't turn the game into "something other than soccer" as our blind friend New Refs says. They took it to Irmo and just played harder. I give Irmo credit for the second half and how hard they pushed and attacked, but SA just wanted it more. If anything the ref was against SA getting WAY too card happy and calling ridiculous fouls on SA and non fouls on Irmo.

no offense to any of the SA players yal are real good, but without Jamal and Goose yall would not of won the game, or even gotton to the state championship game. Irmo controlled the game and played like champions. They got bad calls. but all in all congrats SA great job

always right...i think the fact that coach savitz got on the board to congratulate sa says enough about the class of irmo. yall just have to find something to say about irmo. you should have been showing some respect yourself and watching sa receive their medals if you think irmo was trying to be disrespectful. it sounds like you were showing just as much disrespect, as you call it, as irmo.

Jamal took it like a man? Are you joking. The woman went down in the first half for three minutes and then got up and walked off under his own power. Lets not forget the match up on March 1 where he went down with a cramp every two seconds. Why don't yall get off your knees and stop trying to become Jamals new best friend

The bottom line is that Irmo was not as good as South Aiken. Deal with it, and let South Aiken have their year. Jeez you Irmo fans are such women. I can't believe I sat as close to you all as I did. I was ready to puke on every fan. Every call the ref made was terrible according to you all. It was sickening to hear you open your mouths. I almost swung on the cat in front of me for talking too much.

Savitz is a complete class act, no doubt. But, that does not even begin to make up for the rest of the Irmo team and fans. If Irmo doesn't win, then something went terribly wrong and it's everybody's fault but theirs. If they're such a dominant force they should've put one in the net and taken the game out of anyone else's hands. I'm suprised there is no crying about SA's goal and how the ref cost them that one too. Irmo needs to lose with grace and just say good game. There is absolutely no argument who the better team was and is. No Irmo crying can take that away from SA.

i was at the match and the refs did an even job, i would have preferred irmo to win but its interesting to see someone else on top, i hope no one else complains about the refs because they called a good game, not trying to be harsh but it seems to me some irmo fans are having trouble excepting the loss, i actually thought Irmo was getting alot of calls down the line by that side ref nearest to the fans, but i guess its a good thing the irmo fans are so shocked bc that just shows how much they expect to win and how much they have in the past, but it was interesting when the irmo fans continued to chant "irmo" after the game was over in a some what defying "we can still win" manner, but im sure it was just them sympathizing with their players, congrats to both teams (especially to SA, both teams had their high points in the game but SA to me obviously controlled the majority of the game (with out the refs help))

Jeff Hardy......i couldnt agree more. We played as a TEAM we played rough because this was the biggest game of our lives. We played fair, hard, and with a lotta heart. That's it. This was our year to win and we weren't gonna let anyone take it away from us. As for what soccermom said about what our coach said to Coach Savitz after the game....well i'll leave that alone because they did physically beat us down at certain points in the game, but they didnt beat us when it came to schemes and formations and ball control. But then again, that quote can be taken many different ways. Irmo fought hard at the end of the game and they gave it there all, but this was just our year. Irmo is a dynasty at soccer and we were honored to play them twice this year. I look forward to seeing them agian next year.

Very intense game by both squads. As to the controversial goal by Irmo, take a look at this picture, http://goirmo.com/images/ThePlay03.jpg
I think that it's pretty obvious that Irmo got screwed on that call, and nobody can argue because pictures do not lie.

This is a bit of a "touchy" area for me to comment on, but I want to be on the record for a fair assessment of what I witnessed.

First off, it was an outstanding final between what I think most will agree on were the two best Class 4A boys teams in the state this season.

Now then, onto the postgame situation.

The SCHSSCA had been asked to make sure that proper decorum was followed after each match amongst the teams and the fans -- the security this weekend did a very good job in terms of crowd control and keeping things on time and in an efficient matter.

It was relayed to the SCHSSCA to make sure that proper respect was upheld by the Champion and Runner-Up during the trophy/medal presentation following each match.

Well, after Irmo was presented with the State Runners-Up trophy, a couple of Yellow Jackets hoisted the trophy, received the applause from the crowd, and then were called a few yards down field by their coaches toward the scoreboard end of the field. The team clearly had their backs turned toward the presentation of the State Championship trophy as their coaches addressed them after the match.

The SCHSL soccer liaison, Roger Hazel, informed Irmo Principal Gerald Witt and Athletics Director Bob Hanna about the lack of recognition Irmo was giving to South Aiken and Hanna responded to him with a comment of the sort, "I can't break up a team meeting", and did not intervene in the meeting. This from a football coach, who has been a Class 4A Runner-Up in two of the past three seasons -- 2002 (Division 2) and 2004 (Division 1).

I've known Phil Savitz, Dennis Cook, and others associated with the Irmo HS boys soccer program a long time and consider all friends. I truly respect the Yellow Jackets' tremendous history and soccer excellence -- no one has ever done it better between the lines in S.C. high school soccer.

But, as a parent of an Irmo player told me after the game, "Our boys just need to learn how to lose a little bit better."

As GOIRMO.COM states today on their fine website, from poet Edwin Markham, "Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out." At the time he didn't know about Irmo boys soccer but was nonetheless prophetic about one of the nation's best programs ever. He was right and perhaps his words ring true for the Yellow Jackets today for one game, one loss, one day cannot mar a season of great accomplishment or quarter of a century of excellence. The remarkable trail of 15 championships, of hundreds of wins, of scores of great players and of a program built on class, character and consistency can be appreciated even more today than yesterday. There were no losers in this year's title game. Let the glory out. Congratulations to our Lower State champions on another outstanding season and a superb effort."

I wish the Irmo boys soccer team would have shown that 'glory' as well to South Aiken after the match.

http://www.goirmo.com/archives/bsoccer051505.htm

The pictures are inconclusive via NFL standards. There is a shadow on the line that could be balls shadow. Also the rules says it has to fully cross the line. No linesman could call that a goal because the ball would have been partly obstructed by the post. The center could not judge based on his depth. Indeed a close play and unfortunate ruling for Irmo, but at least the officials let the kids make the play and not "interfere" with the game.

I agree fully with The Hammer according to the picture from what I'm seeing is that the ball didn't cross the line but then again it might have I don't know but u cant take that chamionship back SA won.

It's truly a shame that a few fans could make a whole team look bad. Irmo fans are passionate, no doubt, but please don't let the few who let their passion get away from them, until it turns to rudeness, mark a whole team. Most of us do agree that it was a great game, and believe it or not, as anyone who is honest with themselves should admit, we HATE that the boys didn't win, for no other reason than because they are our children! Who wants to see their child disappointed. In the same respect, we do congratulate SA on a great win. See I believe it's not SA or Irmo that perpetuates (Look it up) the back & forth, it is all the "well-meaning" fans and critics on this board. And it doesn't matter...not one bit, but the ball was in.

Soccer boy is my son and I am using his name to add my voice one final time in responce to all of you out there claiming that the ball didn't cross the line. The ball defititely without question crossed the line. I film for Irmo and have done so for the last 15 years and in all of the games filmed this is only the second time the ref team failed to make the call. The sideline guy just didn't make a call all night. If I remember right he only called offsides once the whole night. Had the call been made the game would have probably been decided by pk's. Congratulations to South Aiken on winning the state title.

This was my final game to film for Irmo and it has been a pleasure for all these years. I have seen boys become men and have watched & tasted great wins as well as watched & tasted defeat. I wish everyone could see the wall in my basement which is a tribute to one of the greatest programs in high school soccer. Good luck to Irmo in the future. I will forever be a part of your program.

With great pride I sign off.
Doug Gray

That picture is a very, very close call and if it was indeed a goal, then it doesn't suprise me that the linesman missed it. He missed two blatant balls out of bounds and awarded corners to Irmo and had some bad off sides call (non calls and actual calls). How do you have the State Championships with bad refs? It's beyond me. Hopefully next year the situation will be correted.

soccer boy's mommy.. if it crossed, it didnt cross enough to be called. Game over. SA wins..
get over it irmo.

Congrats to South Aiken for winning the state title and bringing recognition to the fact that soccer DOES exist in Aiken!

We're very happy for you and also very glad that Goose is graduating. Any chance that Jamal will graduate early??

Wow, the picture convinces me.

web page

Go South Aiken The greatest team ever to go down in South Carolina history. This season should be turned into a video and sold on ESPN. order in the next ten minutes and get your free ESPN Hoodie.

It was in...It was out...

Guys, I don't know about you but I have been to several games this year and not one was without a very bad call by the ref. Sometimes those calls were very influential in the outcome of a game, sometimes they weren't. That doesn't excuse a bad call, but unfortunately they do happen. In a case like this the linesman or ref will most likely not make the call if it is not completely clear that it was over the line. After hearing everyone on this board talk about the call, it's pretty clear to me that it was not an obvious call to make. Personally I don't support either team but neither team can tell me that they did not get the benefit of a call in a close game somewhere this season and have me believe it. I'm sure that Irmo has received some favorable calls from referees this year and SA has had the same.

SA and Irmo are to be congratulated on having great seasons, and SA more so because they won something that many people didn't think they could. For the record, I will say that if what has been said on this board with regards to Irmo walking away from the SA recognition is true, then it shows a true lack of sportsmanship on the entire team. It's OK to be upset or mad about a loss but to me it shows a lack of character on Irmo this this is the second time the past few years that htis has happened.

haha go south aiken.......said by a gaffney fan....this is a kodak moment

as has already been posted the Irmo parent said her kids need to "learn how to lose". No kidding! This is not the first time they've shown a lack of class. In fact I was at the last one and could not believe a team with that reputation would act like that. It's a shame, but what are the general fans to do about it?????

Cornerflag,

...a red card in the previous SA game and NW game ide say were pretty favorable to Irmo. For someone who says hes not bias you are quite quick to be so bias. At least this year its not, "Referees favor Irmo because Dennis Cook picks them personally" or "Referees always let Irmo get away with stuff," or " Refs always give Irmo the game."

In games i've seen this year, in order to hault prior season skepticism on Irmo and refs (particularly because Dennis Cook, a referee assigner, is on Irmo's sideline), refs have potentially become bias toward Irmo opponents.

This is just a theory, though... but i mean, hell if Irmo won every year, what would be the fun in that?

As for the sportsmanship issue:

I am sure that Phil Savitz would not purposefully put a blemish on his well known reputation of being one of the classiest coaches in High School soccer.

If you are going to be unbias, Cornerflag, then you can't attack one side and defend the other. Here is a defense for the side you so humbly attacked.

Futbol:

What the heck are you talking about? How am I biased against Irmo with what I said? Where did I defend SA? I think that you need to slow down and reread.

With regards to Savitz, again I did not say that it was on purpose, but the act, whether intentional or unintentional shows lack of respect.

Just look at the SA guy's right leg which is on the goal line and you will see that the ball is behind his leg. However, the seasons over as some have said. Fame is fleeting anyway.

As far as officiating goes, I have seen worse, but remember they are human beings too.

this may be a little late to say this..but anyways...#19 for irmo played a amazing game on saturday...and he is only a freshman!!!..cant wait to see him play in a few years..congrats to SA for a great win and thanks to both teams for a very entertaining game!!

Sorry to change the subject but...

Does anyone know what the shirts Goose and Jamal said on them? I can only imagine it was brilliant!

The shirts said "Carolina". Goose is going there next year and Jamal is going there as well but another year with the T-Breds first!

Carolina Soccer

They were USC soccer shirts. I thought it was pretty brilliant myself, I'm glad I didn't get to see if they would've pulled it off w/merely a tying goal or a goal to pull the lead to one. It was not over the top by any means. It was simple and creative, just the way a game winning goal celebration should be.

yet they both got yellowcarded

I might the lone voice in the wilderness on this one, but to me it was extremely foolish to get a yellow card in this manner in the state championship game.More so for Jamal than Goose because to me it limits your aggressiveness on challenges to the ball.No way could SA afford either player to go out with 2 yellows. I ,like everyone, else enjoys a spontaneous celebration but I'm not sure this was the right time to do that. Maybe a goal for a 2-0 lead would be OK,but not a 1-0 lead in the first half of the state championship game. Save the yellow.Just my opinion. Not trying to be a spoilsport only a realist.

actually only geathers got yellowcarded

yeah...the fact that it risked them getting two and being out is a good point, but i think they should allow celebrations, it doesnt hurt the game and goals in soccer are huge, especially in big games

I agree, they were taking a chance but I'm going to counter your statement with your statement. It WAS the state championship! The excitement, the hype...they had to do something out of the ordinary, especially Goose being a senior, needed something to go out on!
I'm sure one of the news cameras caught it...Stuart Scott wants a copy!

i was happy to see it, made the game more professional

When Zach Prince asked the referee why he failed to card Goose for his actions along with Jamal the ref told him "I didnt see him take his shirt off, I only saw him putting his jersey back on"

yea...i think thats kind of weird reasoning, and it looked to me the ref wanted to card goose, but the ref could turn around and see a player bleeding on the ground, but if he didnt see it he cant call it (kind of a different situation), but as far as he knows Goose took it off to adjust it, possibility of reasonable doubt, but i think if he carded geathers he should have goose, even though once again im glad they did it

Again congrats to SA on a strong finish to a great season. You were the better team last night and you got the greater benefit of the calls or lack of calls.

As to the rest of you, when you actually string together more than one championship in a row, or even actually win one, then maybe you can tell Coach Savitz and his players what they should or shouldn't be doing. I think they've got it figured out pretty well. I've known him for 24 years, and he's one heck of a coach and a nice person. The fact that he comes on here himself and congratulates the opponent again apparently isn't good enough for some.

Act like you've been there before.

Like I said, maybe after a goal to go 2-0. I'm an old football(oblong)coach, so I tend to see things as a coach might. Hey, I love a good celebration though.
Brings to mind a great celebration I saw on that same field years ago. USC was playing Charleston Southern in the NCAA's and the CSU fans were ragging on Mathis unmercifuly. After scoring a goal he ran to the CSU student section pulling his shirt off and hold ing it up so they could see his name on the back. Of course Yellow Card follows. This really fired up the CSU fans then.Later in the game Mathis scores again and remembering the earlier yellow card, he ran directly to the center ref, stopped and neatly tucked his shirttail in. Hilarious.

Hey just a question?

Was Jamal Geathers hurt Saturday, but is that how he normally played? I saw him limping around, and didn't play to the expectations I thought he would (being the best player in state) but I just figured it was because he got hurt.

hurt his foot on a shot...he didnt get hit or anything...i just think he caught it on the ground when he struck the ball and i know that hurts like hell...can anyone confirm?

God Bless South Aiken. I was on the team that one the first ever region championship in '97 and it makes a man proud to see how far they have come.

p.s. Jeff Hardy will face FIFA 2004 soon...

Thanks Defender, but may I ask what makes him good? Like some people are good with skill, ball control, shots, speed, tricks, and things like that.

Jeff Hardy,

SA's win is tainted.

The supposed untainted win (click here)

Irmo recieved the majority of the calls? If I were Irmo I would give up all the calls in the game for this one.

I'm sorry, what did you say fanatic? I couldn't hear you, because all I heard was...

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/11650814.htm