5/25/2010

PINECREST PALADINS  – 2010 GISA STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONS!

On Saturday, May 22, the Paladins of Pinecrest Academy defeated Frederica Academy at the Mount De Sales Cavalier Sports Complex in Macon, Georgia, 3-1.

The match, between the two top teams, started on an ominous note for the Paladins when Ben Frain, Sophomore defender, tried to clear the ball from the Pinecrest goal box in the 8^th minute.  The clearance hit the Frederica forward in the knee and found its way into the back of the net.  Pinecrest found itself in a 1-0 hole on a fluke play.  But the boys rallied and showed the mental strength they had displayed all year and did not let it deter them.

In the 19^th minute, Pinecrest won its first corner kick of the match.  Sophomore forward Nico Sanchez sent a long cross into the box where Junior midfielder Ernesto Ochoa was unmarked.  Ochoa won the ball in the air and sent a screamer toward goal.  The Knights goalkeeper was there to deflect the ball into the path of Freshman midfielder JP Metz.  Metz calmly tucked the ball into the goal and the match was all even, 1-1.  16 minutes later the Paladins won another corner kick.  Junior forward Rico Garcia served the ball into the box where Sophomore forward JP Holdsworth won the ball and passed it to Junior midfielder David Reichardt.  Reichardt found space in the crowded area and put Pinecrest ahead for good, 2-1. 

Frederica came out flying after the intermission to try to tie the match.  6 minutes into the half Harrison Benefield, the state’s leading goal scorer, found himself alone 25 yards from goal and sent a rocket toward goal.  But, fortunately, it rattled off the cross bar.  The Pinecrest defense tightened itself up after that moment and made it extremely difficult for the Knights to get another clear look at the goal.

The Paladins were not finished on the attacking side though and five minutes after the Benefield blast sophomore defender Ben Frain started the attack deep in Pinecrest territory.  Frain found Sanchez at midfield who then played Garcia down the flank.  Garcia beat the Frederica defender and sent a laser into the far left corner of the goal out of the reach of the Knights goalkeeper.  Pinecrest 3 Frederica 1!

The final 20 minutes of the match went back and forth.  But players like Austin Ward, Nick Domenge, Labib Marmarchi and Nicky Fouriezos continued to keep the Knights unbalanced.  As the clock wound down the anticipation in the stands grew.  When the whistle sounded and the match was over the team converged and celebrated together.  The Pinecrest Paladins were State Champions!

To top off the day the team gathered after the match with their families and friends who traveled to Macon to witness the victory in the grotto at the Cavalier Complex to thank everyone, including the Lord, and prayed a decade of the Rosary led by Assistant Coach Eddie Mulholland.  It was a true Pinecrest moment!

The team finished the season with a record of 19 wins and 1 defeat.  They outscored their opponents 109 – 16.  The team had the top three scorers in the State: David Reichardt led the state with 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points, Nico Sanchez had 21 goals and 21 assists for 45 points and Rico Garcia had 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points.  Nick Fouriezos had the second lowest GAA at .839.

Thanks to everyone who supported the team throughout the year!

5/20/2010

The Pinecrest Academy Boys Soccer team stamped their ticket to the GISA State Finals match with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Warriors from the Brookwood School!

The scoring started in the 4^th minute when David Reichardt (Jr) played Nico Sanchez (So) down the right flank behind the Brookwood defense.  Sanchez sent a lofted ball to the back post where Rico Garcia (Jr) calmly nodded the ball across the line for the 1-0 lead.  The Paladins continued to pepper the visiting goalkeeper for the rest of the half but he was up to the challenge, making 11 saves in the 1^st half to keep his team in the match.

But the Paladin pressure did not whither after halftime and Pinecrest doubled their lead two minutes into the half.  PA won a throw in deep inside the Warrior territory.  Sanchez tossed the ball to a sprinting Ernesto Ochoa whose deft first touch put him in alone with the keeper and the Paladins found themselves up 2-0 with 38 minutes remaining.  Pinecrest would add an insurance goal 21 minutes later when JP Metz (Fr) “threaded the needle” to Reichardt 18 yards out.  The Junior midfielder would score his 21^st goal of the season and the Paladins found themselves up 3-0 with 17 minutes to play.

The Paladins would only concede one shot on goal to the Warriors the entire match to ensure the team’s 8^th shout out of the season.  While it was a complete team effort Wednesday night the stalwart defense was led by Nick Domenge (Sr), Kevin Metz (Sr), Ben Frain (So), Austin Ward (Fr), and goalkeeper Nick Fouriezos (Sr).

Pinecrest will take on Frederica Academy from Saint Simons Island at Mount De Sales Cavalier Fields this Saturday at 3pm.  Please come and cheer the boys on in their quest to win their first State Championship!

5/17/2010

Pinecrest Advances to State Semifinals!

The Paladins advanced to the GISA State Semifinals Saturday night with a convincing 6-0 win over the Young American Christian School. 

Pinecrest started the scoring only three minutes into the match.  Senior captain Kevin Metz gained control of the ball deep inside PA’s defensive third and dribbled the length of the field and crossed the ball to a wide open JP Holdsworth for the easy tap-in.  Less than 15 minutes later the Paladins added to the scoreboard when junior Rico Garcia was played in behind the Eagles defense by David Reichardt.  Garcia sacrificed himself to slot the ball under the goalkeeper for the 2-0 lead.  Six minutes later freshman midfielder JP Metz scored his third goal of the season from a corner kick service from Nico Sanchez.  Metz rose up over the YAC defenders to head the ball into the upper corner.  Junior Labib Marmarchi finished the first half scoring from the Paladins when he received a pass from Reichardt and calmly tucked it into the left corner out of the goalkeeper’s reach.  After 40 minutes of play Pinecrest led 4-0.

The second half started much like the first half when David Reichardt scored his 20^th goal of the season in the 42 minute of the match.  After receiving the ball from JP Metz, Reichardt spun away from his defender inside the YAC goal box and blasted pass the Eagle’s goalkeeper.  20 minutes later Junior Ernesto Ochoa scored his 10^th goal of the season to finish off the score sheet, 6-0.  Nick Fouriezos claimed the shutout and the Paladin defense held the Eagles to only six shots throughout the match.

The match was then halted in the 70^th minute due to lightening in the area.  After a two hour wait, GISA officials declared the match complete and Pinecrest advanced to its third straight semifinal. 

Pinecrest will host the Brookwood School on Wednesday, May 19^th.  Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30pm.  Please come out and cheer the Paladins on!

5/10/2010

Varsity Boys Soccer Team Advances to GISA State Soccer Quarterfinals

The Pinecrest Paladins Varsity Boys Soccer Team has advanced to the GISA State Quarterfinals for the third year in a row with a convincing 6-2 victory over Lafayette Christian Saturday night, May 8.

After a lackluster first half and a 1-0 deficit, Pinecrest came to life in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 6 – 1 in the final 40 minutes of the match.  The scoring started in the forty-eighth minute when the Paladins were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from the LCS goal.  Junior midfielder David Reichardt stepped up and dropped the ball into the far left-hand corner to tie the match at one.  Thirty-seven seconds later, Ernesto Ochoa stole the ball off the LC tap, played Nico Sanchez down the flank.  Sanchez then lasered the ball into the upper-90 to take a 2-1 lead.  Pinecrest added to the lead two minutes later when Ochoa and Sanchez combined again to find JP Holdsworth in front of the goal to finish off the cross. 

After a Lafayette Christian goal from a penalty kick in the fifty-fifth minute, the Paladins were at it again when Reichardt scored his second of the match and 19^th of the season.  Ochoa (68 min) and Sanchez (71 min) finished off the scoring for Pinecrest.

Pinecrest will take on the Young American Christian School from Conyers, GA on Saturday, May 15, at 4:30pm at Pinecrest Academy.

4/28/2010

Pinecrest Sets Program Record with 13th Straight Victory!

Pinecrest defeated region rival Mount Vernon last night in convincing fashion with a 10-0 victory to remain undefeated.

Rico Garcia and Nico Sanchez led the effort with three goals and two assists each.  David Reichardt and JP Holdsworth each scored a brace (2 goals) for the Paladins.  Nick Fouriezos recorded his fourth shutout of the season.

The Paladins improved their record to 13-0, 6-0 in region and have outscored their opponents 85-10.  With a win against Christian Heritage on Friday in Dalton Pinecrest will clinch a tie for the region title, which will set up a battle for the region championship on Monday evening against Holy Spirit here at Pinecrest at 6pm in the regular season finale!  The Paladins are the only team to have beaten the Cougars this year, 3-0 at HSP.

The boys next match is tomorrow evening here at Pinecrest against Crown at 7pm.  Please come out and cheer the team on in their quest to remain undefeated!

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3/30/2010

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3/26/2010  

Paladins Stay Perfect with Region Win!

The Pinecrest Boys’ Soccer team ran its record to 7-0 (2-0 in Region) last night with a 7-0 win over the Lions of Dominion Christian.   Nick Fouriezos led the way last night with 7 first half saves to preserve the 1-0 lead heading into half-time.  The Paladins then exploded for six second-half goals, with five goals coming in the first 20 minutes of the half to open the game up and put DC away.   Rico Garcia scored the first hat-trick of the season and also set up JP Metz’s goal off a corner kick.  Nico Sanchez chipped in with three assists.  The other PA scorers were David Reichardt (1g, 1a), Ernesto Ochoa (1g), Labib Marmarchi (1g) and Kevin Metz (2a).   Pinecrest finishes up the first half of the season with an away match against Loganville Christian on Monday.

3/24/2010

Paladins Sweep Aside #4 Arlington Christian

The PA Boys Soccer team defeated Arlington Christian, ranked #4 in GISA, last night 7-1 to run its record to 6-0 on the season.  David Reichardt led the Paladins with 2 goals and 3 assists bringing his state leading points total to 7 goals and 9 assists.  He was joined on the score sheet by Rico Garcia (2g, 1a), Ernesto Ochoa (1g, 2a),  JP Holdsworth (1g, 1a), Nico Sanchez (1g).  Goalkeeper Nick Fouriezos made 9 saves to secure the victory.   Last week the Paladins scored two victories with wins over Crown HS, 6-2, and Region I rivals Christian Heritage, 5-1. PA has outscored their opponents this season 29-6 and is currently ranked #1 in GISA.   Please come out this Thursday night, March 25, when Pinecrest takes on another Region I foe Dominion Christian at home at 7pm.

Boys Varsity Wins 2010 Crusader Classic

The Paladins opened the season Friday night with a 2-0 victory over the Westfield School.  Goals from David Reichardt and Nico Sanchez sent Pinecrest onto a Semi-Final match up with the Piedmont School.   After dominating the first half Pinecrest fell behind with 2 minutes remaining before halftime when the referee awarded Piedmont a penalty kick.  After the break, the Paladins stormed ahead 3-1 within the first 9 minutes on when JP Metz’s first career goal split two Nico Sanchez goals.  Pinecrest controlled the remainder of the game and scored two more goals, by Ernesto Ochoa and Rico Garcia, to seal the place in the finals.  Pinecrest outshot Piedmont 27 – 2 for the match.   The Paladins were hoping to meet up with tournament hosts and defending State Champion Trinity Christian in the final.  But the Crusaders were relegated to the consolation match after losing on penalties to Arlington Christian, 3-2.   Pinecrest controlled the final from the start and looked to break down the Arlington defense.  In the 16th minute of the match Labib Marmarchi and David Reichardt played a 1-2 and Marmarchi smashed home the Paladins first goal.  Immediately following from the tap Arlington caught PA goalkeeper Rico Garcia napping and scored from the midline 55 yards away.  Pinecrest was not be undone though and JP Holdsworth headed home a Reichardt cross with 9minuts left to play in the first half. Reichardt would then get on the score sheet himself after Nico Sanchez found him open in front of the goal 6 minutes later.  Ernesto Ochoa would finish off the scoring with 1 minute remaining in the first half.  The final score, Pinecrest 4  Arlington 1.   Nico Sanchez was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.