Game Report - Chiles 1, Lincoln 1

January 12, 2005

A night after Chiles dispatched Godby 7-0 they met the Lincoln Trojans at the Chiles pitch on Wednesday, January 12. Coming into this match the Florida Sports Writers Association poll ranked Lincoln #1 in the state in Class 4A.

In the first district match between the two sides Lincoln prevailed 1-0, but it was a tough and close fight the entire evening. The second match between the two sides proved no different.

In a well played match by both sides, Lincoln came out early with the upper hand, having some quality strikes on the ball towards the Chiles net. However, keeper Mike Turner was able to repel all of the shots and the Chiles defense was able to turn back the attackers again and again. Similarly, though, Chiles had some opportunities to put the first score up, but the Lincoln keeper and defense kept the ball out of the net. As the whistle blew for the end of the first half the scoreboard showed a score of 0-0.

The second half began quickly for Lincoln, though, and in the 43 minute (just 3 minutes into the second half) Lincoln was awarded a corner kick. Armante Marshall, taking all of the corner kicks for Lincoln, played it into the box and somehow Dustin Rivest of the Lincoln side was able to push it past Turner to put Lincoln up 1-0. After a hard fought half against the favorite, one had to wonder how the boys would respond after allowing the goal. Not to worry, though, as the boys did not get discouraged but became more focused. The Chiles side started winning more of the 50-50 balls, winning second chance balls, and having scoring opportunities of their own. In the 63^rd minute of the match the ball was played to Gary Warner down the left side and, fighting off the Lincoln defender, was able to get a cross to David Struhs who put it into the net to knot the score 1-1. While the boys picked it up some after the Lincoln score, this goal really seemed to energize the boys. The Chiles side would mount an attack, and Lincoln would mount a counter-attack; Lincoln would mount an attack and Chiles would mount a counter-attack. The final whistle sounded with the match at tied 1-1.

As in the first match between the two, the Chiles’ defensive scheme included putting defender Andrew Bascom in the hip pocket of the dangerous Armante Marshall; and, as in the first contest, Baskie and the Chiles midfielders/defenders Andrew Struhs, Nick Gilpin, Travis Lightfoot, Kicker Renwick, Jacob Howard and Drew Eppes arose to the task. Also playing major roles in the match were David Struhs, Bryan Allen, Tyler Williams, Gary Warner, Ryan Alday, Danny Cammarata and CJ Heard.

Chiles keeper Mike Turner was credited with 12 saves and 1 goal allowed.

Chiles is now 9-5-3, and finished its district play 5-2-1, finishing in no worse than second in the district. Lincoln, sits atop of the district undefeated but with the one tie. Leon, which has 2 district losses, plays Lincoln Friday January 21. It appears that Chiles will play Leon in the first game of the district tournament.

Chiles’ next travels to Santa Fe on Friday, January 21, to Lake City Columbia on Saturday, January 22, to Lynn Haven Mosely on Tuesday, January 25, and to Wakulla Thursday, January 27 before finishing the regular season at home against Episcopal on Friday, January 28. District play is the first week of February, being hosted by Lincoln.

Robert McDonald

LINCOLN T 1 - 1
Player	Goals	Assists	Saves	Goals Allowed	GM Time
Warner, Gary		1
Struhs, David	1
Turner, Mike			12	1	80