The Saint James Trojans (7-5-2, 2-2) returned to area play against Brewbaker Tech (5-4-1, 3-1) on a cool misty late afternoon game at the new YMCA Soccer Facility in what turned out to be a very exciting match. Both offenses played very aggressively in the first half with Chase Woodard scoring for Saint James in the 22nd minute and Brew Tech answering with a goal by Talal Salameh in the 37th minute. These would prove to be the only scores of regulation.
Again both teams came out in the second half with assertive play, but the defenses held the line and no goals were scored in the second half. Deshaun Lewis had several spectacular saves during regulation as play in the boxes was electrifying at times keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. Coleman Taylor, Tristan Elmore, Chase Woodard and Elliot Burrow accounted for all of Saint James’s shots on goal in the game. James McNeil, Michael Murphree, Richard Williamson and Farris Abdulla helped hold the defensive line, with John Robert Bradwell, Ben Olree, Justin Peifer and Ian Tsekouras contributed on both ends of the field.
After regulation play ended in a 1-1 tie, the game went into a pair of five minute overtime periods. No goals were scored during overtime so the game was decided by a shootout.
As the players entered the field for the shootout, the wind began to pick up and the rain, which had held off for most of the match, began to fall at a steady pace adding to the anticipation of the event. For the initial five shots, each team made their first three with Brew Tech’s keeper making a save on Saint James' fourth shot. But Brew Tech missed their fifth shot which would have sealed the game for them and Saint James made theirs. Now the shootout moved into its second phase with each team taking individual shots until someone missed. Both teams made their first shots, but Deshaun Lewis made another spectacular save on Brew Tech’s second try. James McNeil then put his shot in the back right corner of the net giving Saint James the victory.
Saint
James and Brew Tech each ended regulation with fifteen
shots. Saint James
had eight on goal, while Brew Tech had ten. Deshaun
Lewis ended the
evening with nine saves and Brew Tech had six saves. Brew Tech had 14
corner kicks to only five for the Trojans. Because of
their collaborative effort in
this crucial area victory, Coach Thomas
named the entire team the
Man of the Match.