SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer CESA North-South Soccer Classic - Boys Match

Thanks to the Furman University WI-FI system at Eugene E. Stone, III Stadium, www.scsoccer.com is pleased to provide live coverage of today's matches in Greenville, S.C.

Coach David Craig of Eastside HS has also setup a specific CESA North-South Soccer Classic website, which can be found at http://cesansclassic.com/.

NORTH ROSTER
1 Ty Osborne, Lexington -- CO-CAPTAIN
2 Ben Brannan, Northwestern
3 Josh Browning, Wren
4 David Erbacher, Mauldin
5 Jamal Geathers, South Aiken
6 DJ Godino, Mauldin
7 Branson Hyatt, South Aiken
8 Jack Johnston, Greenville
9 Jeff Johnston, Greenville
10 Brett Keatley, Lexington
11 Brad Kocis, Riverside
12 Sammy Lortz, Eastside
13 Edward Meyer, J.L. Mann
14 DJ Piers, Northwestern
15 Schuyler Rearden, Aiken -- CO-CAPTAIN
16 Kevin Ruck, Eastside
17 Thao Vincent, Dorman
18 Jason Vitaris, Seneca
CO-COACH -- Tef Vitaris, Seneca
CO-COACH -- Paul Waters, South Aiken

SOUTH ROSTER
1 Taylor Hopkins, Wando
2 George Rushe, Dreher
3 Kipp Amaker, Dutch Fork
4 Carl Anderson, Dreher
5 Nicky Cates, Dutch Fork
7 Andrew Evans, Brookland-Cayce
9 Christian Gandini, Hilton Head
10 Kyle Hughes, Ridge View -- CO-CAPTAIN
11 Zach Prince, Irmo
12 Kevin Ros, Brookland-Cayce -- CO-CAPTAIN
13 Kevin Simpson, Spring Valley
14 David Thomas, Academic Magnet
15 Drew Tokai, Wando
16 Zach Volousky, James Island
17 Chris Wall, Chapin
18 JT Walters, James Island
CO-COACH -- Kevin Heise, Brookland-Cayce
CO-COACH -- Ben Schoen, Waccamaw

[ June 18, 2006, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Kevin Heise ]

5:18 -- Jamal Geathers of South Aiken knocks home a flicked ball from Greenville's Jack Johnston to put the North squad up 1-0 early in this contest. This was the first action in the box for either team and the North also gets a shot by Mauldin's David Erbacher two minutes later after a great run down the left flank.

It's 82 degrees and a pace even faster than that right now as a misplayed ball by the South's back line leaves Geathers wide open at the penalty spot, but his one-time shot sails high over the crossbar.

Ty Osborne of Lexington minds the net for the North squad, while Dreher's George Rushe earns the starting duties for the South team.

The North team is dressed in a red-white-red strip, while the South squad dons the all white wardrobe.

At the 14:40 mark, Geathers flicks home a throw-in from Aiken's Schuyler Rearden on a ball that was seemingly untouched through a wall of bodies. Geathers snaked his way through a hole and barely clipped the ball for the score. North leads 2-0.

The officials for this match are: (R) Jack Kovaleski; (AR) JJ DeHondt; and (AR) Mike Walters.

The CESA ball chasers for this game are: Lauren Young; Conor Mattern; Stephanie Devita; Mollie Waters; Chelsea Drennan; Kasey Wyer; Katherine Whisehunt; Sarah Tuggle; Nicky Watson; and Riivo Kruuk.

We've hit the water break mark (22:30) and it's been all North thus far. The North has four shots on goal and leads 2-0 with the second stanza of the first half just about to get underway.

A reminder to all is that the match consists of two 45-minute halves and no overtime will be played. The North leads the 17-game series 10-5-2.

A flurry in front of the South goal sees Rushe tally a pair of point-blank saves on shots by Eastside's Kevin Ruck and South Aiken's Branson Hyatt. Moments later, Rushe again turns back Ruck and through the first half hour the North is controlling this match.

The South finally gets its first shot of the match at the 32-minute mark as Brookland-Cayce's Andrew Evans leaps for a header at the six-yard box that requires a full stretch save by Lexington's Ty Osborne.

A minute later James Island's Zach Volousky rips a shot from just outside the box and Osborne parries it away for a corner kick that is played in and caught by Osborne.

The South has picked up the pace of this match as Evans collects the ball nicely at midfield and dribbles down the middle of the field where he lays a pass off for an on-rushing Zach Prince of Irmo, who just gets under the ball and sails it high of the crossbar.

Of note, the South is somewhat at a disadvantage this afternoon as only three field players are available for substitutes. Conversely, Osborne is the lone goalkeeper on the roster for the North squad.

At the 39:20 mark, a ball is played into the South's box and appears to have hit a defender squarely on a stretched arm. No penalty is given and the South avoids a further deficit.

Halftime -- North 2-0 South

Shots - N 8, S 2
Corner Kicks - N 1, S 1
Saves - N 2, S 2
Fouls - N 4, S 5

FIRST HALF
5:18 - Jamal Geathers (Jack Johnston), 1-0 N
14:40 - Geathers (Schuyler Rearden), 2-0 N

The North begins the second half in gear as Geathers simply flicks the ball to Ruck who volleys just over the crossbar and the South's new goalkeeper Taylor Hopkins of Wando.

Two minutes later the South team works the ball down the field and Evans is double-teamed and knocked down near the endline, but earns a corner kick in which Dreher's Carl Anderson fires high with his shot on goal.

At the 51:45 mark Hilton Head's Christian Gandini serves in a ball from 40 yards out and Evans' challenge on Osborne results in another corner kick for the South team. The cross is handled well by Osborne and the threat is thwarted.

Prince gets loose along the top of the box and fires dead middle of the goal where Osborne catches it cleanly. The South team is probing the box right now, but just can't push through.

Geathers gets his head on another cross and Hopkins collects his first save. The ball meanders its way down to the other side where Prince works hard against a pair of defenders, spins to the near post and then rips a shot across the front of the goal that earns the South a corner kick. The ensuing play has James Island's JT Walters get off a shot that is blocked by Osborne and then cleared away. The feeling is that it's a matter of time before the South cashes in, but the North defense continues to withstand the pressure.

The South team's relentless pressure makes the deficit just one goal at the 67:30 mark as Prince plays a ball through the North defense and Ridge View's Kyle Hughes collects it nicely and picks his spot to put the South squad on the board.

2-1 with the fourth stanza coming up -- should be an exciting end here in Greenville!

Just after the restart, Rearden gets a free kick from about 40 yards out and the ball is played softly to him as his attack towards the South goal makes Hopkins dive to his left to stop the shot. All throughout the North's teams practices the past two days, Rearden has excelled in those types of restarts and he doesn't disappoint on his 20-yard shot.

At the other end, Prince once again proves to be a thorn in the North's side as his header requires Osborne's full attention.

It's tied at 2-2! At the 70:49 mark, Hughes rockets in a shot just inside the penalty area markings on a rebounded pass from Walters. Again, Prince was hard at work creating the opportunity and the South squad has leveled this match with 20 minutes to play.

I told you this was shaping up to be a fun ending!

At the 73:41 mark, Dorman's Vincent Thao gets on the end of a neat pass and slaps a shot just wide of the far post of Hopkins. Lots of acton at both ends right now.

An apparent goal by the North team has been wiped away due to offsides deep into the box. Not a good vantage point from here in the Press Box, so the South's comeback attempt is still in tact.

The North team almost has the lead again as Ruck's rip from the top of the box hits the inside of the circular post and goes straight across the mouth of the goal. 2-2 with 10 minutes to play.

The South team is now on the hunt for a goal as Evans attacks the North defense and lays a clean ball off to Chapin's Chris Wall who settles the pass and then crushes a shot that is just barely tipped away by Osborne. The corner kick comes out about 25 yards away where Prince fires in a shot that requires Osborne's full attention mentally and physically at this stage of the match. Outstanding stuff!

At the 84:27 mark Gandini goes through on a great ball by Prince, but Erbacher defends nicely and is tripped up by the Seahawks' star.

A spirited final push looks ready to be made by the South as Brookland-Cayce's Kevin Ros gets a nice sliding ball to Prince who gets off a good shot that is saved by Osborne.

Penalty, penalty! No question a penalty kick has been given to the South team as Osborne brings down Prince on a 1v1 situation and is cautioned for the offense. So, at the 88:38 mark, Prince steps to the penalty spot and whips his spot-kick into the left side of the goal for an improbable 3-2 comeback for the South team. Incredible!

The North gets a final chance with a free kick just outside the South penalty area. The ball is sliced in past the wall and glances past the South goal.

It's over and the South wins for the second-straight year. The North leads the overall series 10-6-2, but it was the South's second half rally that was the story of this match.

Excellent competition today at Stone Stadium!

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

Great weekend by the players, coaches, volunteers, etc., at Furman University. This was a lot of fun with the transition from Mount Pleasant to Greenville and the Press Box crew for today's games: Scott Ruggles; David Easley; and myself; were glad to present this commentary throughout the matches.

incredible guys game!!!

Kyle, David, and Scott -- great account of the game! Thanks for the effort! It was one of the best overall all-star games that we've had in the North-South series.

Special thanks to William Hosea (JL Mann) and Dick Smith (TL Hanna) that coordinated much of the event! Great job in a difficult transition year!