Original Article on Longview News-Journal Website

Pine Tree scores early, but can't stop Poteet, 4-2

By JACK STALLARD

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

LINDALE – The Pine Tree Lady Pirates failed to capitalize on a promising start here Tuesday, giving up two quick goals just after halftime and never recovering as Mesquite Poteet rallied for a 4-2 victory in Class 4A area playoff soccer action at Eagle Stadium.

Mesquite Poteet, the runner-up in its district, moves to 18-5-1 with the win and advances to meet Highland Park in the regional quarterfinals. Pine Tree, the champion of District 16-4A, ends its season with a 19-4-3 record.

Pine Tree, which had allowed just one goal in its last six matches and just three goals in its last 10 outings, took a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest. The Lady Pirates stalled out offensively after that, managing fewer than five shots on goal the rest of the way before scoring late to cut the deficit in half.

‘‘I felt like we played not to lose instead of playing to win,'' Pine Tree head coach Daniel Rich said. ‘‘We came out and played hard early, got the early goal and just assumed we would hold on like we've done in the past. I think the girls got complacent and just tried to hold on.

‘‘We finally decided, after it was out of hand, to take some risks and take some shots. We did finish strong, and I'm proud of the way we finished.''

Pine Tree will lose six seniors – Shelli Small, Stephanie Casto, Hayley Grgurich, Tiffany Gee, Anne Lundby and Jaclyn Friday. The remainder of the roster includes seven juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.

‘‘We had an awesome season, a great turnaround season for the team and the program,'' Rich said. ‘‘The future is promising. We accomplished a lot of things this year, but we still need to get over that area hurdle.''

The Lady Pirates got on the board first with a 20-yard blast from Amy Holman with 37:20 showing on the clock.

Friday dribbled the ball in close and fired one that Mesquite Poteet goalkeeper Allison Gunmudson took off her chest from point-blank range. Friday quickly pounced on the ball and played it back to Holman, who curled one up and over Gunmudson into the upper left corner for a 1-0 Pine Tree lead less than three minutes into the contest.

Gunmudson recovered from the initial shot by Friday and hustled back into position, but had no chance at Holman's 11th goal of the season. The assist was the team-leading 18th of the year for Friday.

Mesquite Poteet equalized 13 minutes later on a penalty kick after Pine Tree was called for a handball inside the box. Jordan Monty drove one into the lower, left corner past a diving Small to tie things at 1-1 at the 24:42 mark of the first half.

The score stayed that way until the break, but Poteet tallied twice in the span of 1:11 shortly after halftime to go in front 3-1.

Chelsie Kale's cornerkick curled into a strong wind directly to Monty, who headed the ball in from 10 yards out at the 30:10 mark for a 2-1 Poteet lead, and then, with 29:01 showing on the clock, a sliding Lisha Nigh dished to Jessica Parks for a 15-yard blast that put Poteet in front 3-1.

Mesquite Poteet put things out of reach at the 17:24 mark when Lauren Stanley beat three Lady Pirate defenders and the keeper for a 10-yard bullet and a 4-1 Poteet cushion.

Pine Tree capped the scoring with 4:45 showing on the clock on an unassisted goal by Gee, who hustled between a couple of Poteet defenders to steal the ball and fired one past Poteet goalkeeper Emily Stoppelmoor for the final tally.

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