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Game
Highlights
Lovett
v GAC, 4-1
2/21/06
Reported
by Paul White
Do we have something of a win
streak developing here? The Lions took the field against certainly the most
talented opposition to date. GAC had a national ODP player in their
offense. Within 24 seconds the Lovett season shutout record was broken and
GAC took a 1-0 lead. Sam Arthur, the national player, seized onto a loose
pass, tore through the defense and hammered his shot low into the far
corner. Starting goalkeeper Drew Chambers had no chance. The question in
everyone's mind was did the Lions have the right stuff to come back
from this early upset? The defense and midfield held firm and the
score was still 1-0 when Jamie White entered the game in the 20th minute of
the first half. This substitution seemed
to turn the tide and the Lions gained confidence and put a lot
more pressure on the GAC defense. The second substitution was worthy
of Jose Mourinho (Chelsea FC's manager and guru). Within
1 minute of Christian Baker taking the field for the
first time this season, he chipped a ball with his left foot over the
defense and Jack Hall ran onto it and cleverly guided the ball past the
keeper for the equalizer. The half ended tied at 1-1.
The large crowd eagerly
awaited the second half. The Lions came out very strong in the second half,
Drew Chambers and the defense continued to hold off the GAC offense and
Jamie White put the Lions ahead with a volley from a superbly lofted ball
back into the penalty area from Andrew Bleke. The Lion offense started to cause
the GAC defense a lot of headaches and they started to crack under the
pressure. Jamie White ran onto a long ball and took it by the keeper only
to have his shot blocked by the defender. Unfortunately for GAC he used his
hands to stop the ball and Lovett was awarded a penalty kick. Jack Hall
made no mistake as he struck the inside of the left post and the Lions were
3-1 up. GAC did not give up, they put the Lions
defense under considerable pressure for the next 15 mins
and peppered the Lovett goal with a series of 25 and 30 yard shots. However
he defense held strong and Drew Chambers kept the ball out. The icing on
the cake and the nail in GAC's coffin was
applied by David Paparelli against the run of play when he dispatched
a 30 yd free kick under the GAC goalkeeper to put the Lions 4-1 up. The
fire went out of GAC and the time ran out. The Lions fought back from the
early setback and emerged victorious over a very strong GAC side who will be in the running for State honors this year.
We may see them again!!
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