'Pack stop Irish run
Unbeaten Greenbrier hands Aquinas first loss of season
By Matt Middleton| Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

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.

From the Wednesday, April 15, 2009 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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