Men’s soccer advances to regionals despite emotional week; women wrap up regular season with 1-0 loss to King
Posted by The Skyliner on November 18th, 2009Paul Conner
Sports Editor
Manuel Izquierdo fights for possession in the Crusaders' 5-1 victory over Chowan Friday. (Photo by Timor Kamilov)
The men’s team battled through an emotional week and secured a berth in the NCCAA regional tournament with a 5-1 win over Chowan Friday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
“Really we didn’t play our best game today, so hopefully we’ll pick up the intensity and the speed of play on Friday,” North Greenville coach Chad Gfeller said. “We kinda got out of our style of play, but we came out in the second half and possessed and played more of our style of soccer, and that made a big difference.”
Last Tuesday, midfielder Thomas McGill, freshman undecided, was taken to intensive care after being involved in a car accident on I-26 near Newberry, S.C. McGill has since been released from the hospital.
On the pitch, Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, gave North Greenville (9-7-1) the lead in the fifth minute, and Jonathan Restrepo, senior international business, added the first of three goals on an assist from Chandler Patterson, sophomore media ministry.
In the first half, goalkeeper Justin Braddock, freshman sport management, collided with a Chowan player and was carted off the field in an ambulance. Braddock was taken to the hospital and suffered a broken nose and a concussion.
Max Duarte, senior marketing, volleyed the ball toward the goal, but a Chowan defender tipped it into the net for an own goal. Restrepo scored again in the 79th minute, but Chowan’s Jonathan Potter scored less than a minute later.
The Crusaders will travel to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga., for the regional tournament on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s all about momentum and going into Friday’s game with the right mind-set,” Gfeller said.
King College downed the women’s soccer team 1-0 Thursday night at Pepsi Stadium in the final match of the regular season. North Greenville (11-7) faced Truett McConnell in the play-in game for the NCCAA regional tournament last night, but the score was unavailable by press time.
“It’s obviously frustrating to lose a 1-0 game here at the end of the year, but I was really proud of some of our girls who stepped up,” North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick said. “We had a couple good looks at goal, but we are still missing some players.”
The Lady Crusaders played without starters Leah Ward, junior sport management, and Emily Pittman, junior sport management. Jade Salle, freshman undecided, and Sarah McCorkle, junior, stepped into starting roles, and nine players were on the pitch for nearly all 90 minutes.
“I was happy with the players that stepped in,” McCormick said. “We had some players playing the whole game, and we were getting a little tired at the end not having as much depth for this game.”
The Tornadoes’ Morgan Shelton scored in the 35th minute on an unassisted goal in breezy, chilly conditions in Tigerville. King (Bristol, Tenn.) controlled much of the possession and outshot North Greenville 17-5 on the night. The Lady Crusaders have lost two straight games for the first time all season. The NCCAA regional tournament begins Friday at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga.
“I’m excited about the opportunity for regionals,” McCormick said. “We feel that we can beat any team there, but from here on out, we have to come out and be ready to play to the best of our ability.”
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 10