Varsity Soccer

Boys – Oglethorpe’s varsity boy’s soccer team took on Jackson Co yesterday at home for one of the rare early games the boys play.  Even though OC went into the half ahead by one, by the end of the final buzzer the Patriots had lost by one, 2-1.

Joshua Tuttle passing the ball.

        The game started well enough with OC spending a lot of time in the Jackson Co end of the field.  In fact, at eleven minutes into the game Cody Flores executed one of his patented flip throw-in’s near the Panther’s goal.  In the ensuing confusion Billy Waters got a foot on the ball and scored for OC.  OC would hold this one point lead for the remainder of the half in spite of at least three shots on goal from OC mid-fielder Sean Atkinson. 

        When the second half started Jackson Co had made adjustments and managed to keep the ball in the Patriot end of the field for most of the half.  JC finally put the equalizer on the board at the 30 minute mark when the pressure in front of OC’s keeper Zammy Mendez became too much thus allowing JC to score.  Just five minutes later, Jackson Co scored on a penalty kick resulting from a tackle by Griffin Giles just inside the box.  The Panthers went up by one. 

Tyler Day and a Panther striker.

        Jackson Co’s last real scoring opportunity occurred with 20 minutes remaining when they had the ball near OC’s goal and Mendez blocked a shot.  On the rebound JC tried getting it past an out of position Mendez but it was blocked by Cody Boarders who was standing in the goal. 

        After that OC made several runs towards JC’s goal with three good shots at the goal but either they went wide or were stopped by JC’s keeper.

        It was a close game and could have easily went to the overtime mode had OC scored in the final minutes.  

        OC is 3-5 (1-2 region) and travels to Hart County today to face the Bulldogs who are 0-4 (0-2 region).  The game starts at 7:30pm.

           You can see pictures of the boys game here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8442049

Girls - The Patriot girls played the Jackson Co Panthers in the late game Tuesday evening. OC and JC would go into the half tied 1-1. Jackson Co would score once more in the second to take home the win 2-1.  

According to Oglethorpe Coach Teresa Rindone this was one of the fastest paced games OC has played to date.   “I was proud of the way the girls played,” said Coach Rindone.  “This was one of the fastest games we’ve played and the girls did a great job of staying with Jackson Co.”  The Panthers also had a great deal of respect for OC’s ace, Laura Abney.  All night long Abney was double teamed. Rarely did Jackson Co not have someone with a hand on her shoulder.   

Jackson Co got the first shot across Oglethorpe’s bow when a shot on goal went just over the cross bar.  OC retaliated with their first shot on goal less than a minute later hit that the football goal post.  It was rebounded and put in the net but OC didn’t get the point.   

Shortly afterwards the Panthers got a fast break going and got the ball by OC keeper Rebecca LaFleur.  For the remainder of the first half, OC made run after run towards Jackson’s goal.  Abney was continuingly playing against two JC defenders, and made good use of OC’s wingers Alexis Miller and Bailey Pledger.  However, even after a half dozen shots on goal Jackson Co managed to keep the ball out of the net.   

With six minutes remaining Abney received the ball just outside the 18 yard box and then, with some fancy footwork, got by two Panther defenders and equalized for the Patriots.  At the half the game was tied 1-1. 

        For perhaps two third of the second half Jackson Co controlled the ball keeping lots of pressure on OC’s defense.  Sarah Chastain, Heather Helmreich and Katie Pilson did a stand-up job of keeping JC from scoring.  But under that much pressure any defense is bound to fail, at least once.  At the 31 minute mark Jackson Co finally broke down OC’s defense when on a corner kick a JC player headed the ball past LaFleur for the Panthers second and last goal. 

        “When you’re playing a game like that, fast paced,” said Coach Rindone, “the halftime break can sometimes hurt you because you can’t get re-started to the point you were in the first half.  And that’s what happened to us.”  There must be something in this because OC pretty much controlled the ball and the game for the final twenty minutes.  Just like in the first half OC made several shots on goal but were wide or blocked.   

        Jackson County kept the two defenders on Abney until the final whistle, which was a good thing for the Panthers.  With less than thirty seconds in the game Abney got the ball and starts dribbling towards JC’s goal.  Abney had the ball the whole JC half of the field, juking right, then left, to throw off Jackson defenders.  She finally got behind the Panther defense and shot the ball but the Jackson keeper made an outstanding play to stop the score, otherwise the game would have gone into overtime.  

        The girls, now 4-3 (0-3 region), travel to Hartwell to face the Hart Co Bulldogs 0-4 (0-2 region) today at 5:30pm.