Back 
Good article but, Ian Tierney scored the second goal for Aquinas and the nice combinations were between Matthew and Daniel Leonard, David Leonard is currently playing for Ga. Southern University's soccer team. Thanks for the coverage though.
It took 45 seconds of the second half of a boys soccer game for Greenbrier to land in that old, familiar place.
The Wolfpack dinked a series of quick passes down the field, which eventually led to the easiest of their four goals Tuesday night, a quick finish from Zac Tihey that broke open what promised to be competitive game against Aquinas.
In a regular-season overflowing with blowouts -- Greenbrier won its first 14 games by an average of more than five goals -- the Wolfpack added one more Tuesday night, 4-2 over previously unbeaten Aquinas in the regular-season finale for both teams. Greenbrier (15-0) led by at least three goals for almost all of the second half and will open the state playoffs at home a week from today.
Daniel Leonard scored the game's first goal for Aquinas, but the Wolfpack responded with four unanswered goals in a meeting of star-ranked, playoff-bound teams that hadn't practiced or played in more than 10 days because of spring break and unrelenting rainstorms.
In that span, Greenbrier had earned the first Class AAAAA state ranking in school history and is up to No. 7 this week, which had coach Chip Warren chuckling after the game.
"Sometimes we need that first goal to get us going," said Warren, whose team finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2003. "Our best play comes when that happens."
Tyler Sanders erased the lethargic start when he scored on Greenbrier's first shot, wrong-footing the keeper by blasting it the opposite direction. Greenbrier grabbed the lead for good when an unmarked Kelechi Erondu was able to practically walk toward the near post and tipped a cross to the opposite side of the goal.
Reed Norton gave the Wolfpack a two-goal lead before halftime when he collected a pass from Erondu deep inside the box and pushed the ball into the net. Aquinas rarely threatened in the second half until Matthew Leonard scored in the final two minutes.
Aquinas (11-1-1), ranked No. 7 in Class AA/A, produced the first goal on a nice Matthew Leonard-David Leonard combination play, but struggled after that.
"It was just a lack of focus for us there (during) a few minutes," said Aquinas coach Kevin Trammell, whose team will open the playoffs at home next week. "We're glad to play (Greenbrier) though. We'll be ready for the playoffs."
Trammell said he rested Ethan LaPan, one of his top players, after he got a yellow card 10 minutes into the game. He would have missed the Irish's playoff opener had he picked up another.
In the girls game, Greenbrier earned its best win of the season: 3-2 over Brookwood (Gwinnett County), the No. 6 team in Class AAAAA. Alex Cohen (27:20 of the first half) and Stormi Childs (31:36 of the second half) scored for the Wolfpack (11-4-1) before freshman Bay Daniel knocked in what proved to be the winner with 25 minutes left.
Goals: Greenbrier--Tyler Sanders, Kelechi Erondu, Reed Norton, Zac Tihey. Aquinas--Daniel Leonard, Matthew Leonard. Assists: Greenbrier--Thomas Hamilton, Kelechi Erondu, Hunter Norton. Aquinas--Matthew Leonard. Goalkeepers: Aquinas--Josh Allen (14 saves); Greenbrier--Brandon Sanders (6 saves); Devin Lemaire (7 saves).
Records: Aquinas 11-1-1; Greenbrier 15-0. Next: Aquinas, first-round state playoffs, April 22; Greenbrier, first-round state playoffs, April 22.
Goals: Greenbrier---Tyler Sanders, Kelechi Erondu, Reed Norton, Zac Tihey. Aquinas---Daniel Leonard, Matthew Leonard. Assists: Greenbrier---Thomas Hamilton, Kelechi Erondu, Hunter Norton. Aquinas---Matthew Leonard. Goalkeepers: Aquinas---Josh Allen (14 saves); Greenbrier---Brandon Sanders (6 saves); Devin Lemaire (7 saves); .
Records: Aquinas 11-1-1; Greenbrier 15-0. Next: Aquinas, first-round state playoffs, April 22; Greenbrier, first-round state playoffs, April 22.
Comments
Good article but, Ian Tierney scored the second goal for Aquinas and the nice combinations were between Matthew and Daniel Leonard, David Leonard is currently playing for Ga. Southern University's soccer team. Thanks for the coverage though.
Uh.........a two goal margin is not a "blowout". Certainly not by high school standards and certainly not when a 5A school is playing a 1A school.
Recoveringliberal, you might want to re-read the article as no where did it mention this game as being a "blowout". The part of the article you may be referring to mentions Greenbrier's previous 14 wins as being blowouts, and the win against Aquinas was simply mentioned as just that--a win. You are right when you say a two goal margin is not a "blowout" in soccer standards, but keep in mind that Greenbrier has beaten opponents 8, 9, even 10 to 0. Also a school's region ranking (A, AA, AAA, etc.) has nothing to do with how good or bad their teams may be, just the size of the school. Greenbrier has probably more than twice the number of students than Aquinas which would explain the higher ranking. Both soccer teams are very good, so get your facts straight before throwing-out excuses for a team's loss.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
