Original Article on Longview News-Journal Website

 Pirates finish third in tourney

|By JOE HALE|

Sunday, January 30, 2005

The Pine Tree Pirates were 1-1 in shootouts Saturday at Pine Tree Stadium, dropping a 4-3 decision to Sulphur Springs in the semifinals of the 2005 Muddog Classic Tournament, but bouncing back to edge Whitehouse 4-2 in the third place match.

Both games were tied at 1-all at the end of regulation.

“We had our share of opportunities, but couldn't capitalize against Whitehouse,” said first-year Pine Tree soccer coach Andre Lo.

The same could be said for the semifinal loss.

Fortunately, though, thanks to goals by junior Tony Guillen and sophomore Zach Williams in the shootout win, and a couple of timely saves by goalkeeper Matt Cain, Pine Tree prevailed against Whitehouse. The win evened it non-district record at 5-5, and improved the Pirates to 2-1 in shootouts with the third place trophy victory.

Not bad, considering Lo rested Guillen, Jesse Reynolds, Josef Aragon and Jace Estes for all or parts of the third place game, following the physically and mentally demanding semifinal loss to Sulphur Springs.

Mount Pleasant won the tourney, defeating district rival Sulphur Springs 3-1 in a shootout after neither team scored in regulation. The Tigers had advanced with a 3-0 win over Whitehouse in their semifinal.

In the third place game, the Pirates took 15 shots on goal compared to 13 by Whitehouse. Cain and Dillon Oram split time in goal for Pine Tree, with Cain recording four saves and Oram two. Whitehouse's Braxton Cooper posted nine saves.

Sophomore forward Scott Goodwin put Pine Tree ahead with the initial goal of the game, coming from 15 yards out on the right side at the 15:45 mark of the first half.

The Pirates maintained their advantage until Chris Carter of Whitehouse answered, sliding down the right side and sailing a hard line-drive shot from 12 yards just past Oram with 20:26 remaining to tie the score at 1-1.

In the shootout, Caesar Rodriguez and Chris Carter hit for the visiting Wildcats. Jonathan Zimicki and Jordan Dubois then answered for the Pirates. Jordan Cooper's subsequent attempt for Whitehouse sailed high.

Guillen, the Pirates' third shooter, placed his shot just past Cooper into the back of the net. The Pirates' Cain then saved a shot by Justin Allen of Whitehouse, and Williams converted the winning goal to secure the decision.

In the semifinal loss to Sulphur Springs earlier in the day, Wilson Jones put the Wildcats ahead on a penalty kick.

Pine Tree's Ryan Darr responded, though, with the tying goal with 7:30 left in regulation. The Pirates missed an opportunity to win in overtime as a shot by Zimicki just 30 seconds into the start of the extra period, missed wide to the left. The period ended with neither team scoring, forcing a shootout.

Sulphur Springs then won 4-3 with its sixth shooter hitting the deciding goal.

The Pirates open district play Tuesday, entertaining Hallsville, which defeated Center 5-0 in a courtesy match here earlier Saturday. In other matches, Jacksonville blanked Henderson 2-0 and Arlington Seguin topped Palestine 1-0.

The tournament's most valuable player award went to Mount Pleasant's David Saldivar.

Pine Tree's Guillen, Cain and Kyle Niehaus were named to the all-tournament team, along with Mount Pleasant's Clint Foster, Isaac Guzman and Jose Zuniga, Sulphur Springs' Jeremy Potter, Jones and David Miranda, and Whitehouse's Rodriguez and Zach Lofties.

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