2002

I ECCC, Gulf Coast battle to 1-1 tie

By Thomas Burton special to The Star DECATUR- Soccer can be ~~ a game of bounces, not just U mches. East Central Commu– ruty College found that out against Gulf Coast Community U. College, the top MACJC South 0 Division team, on Tuesday ~ afternoon. w The tie left Gulf Coast as the w w,r> seed out of the South, but ~ cos1 East Central the No. 2 posi- 0

booster for the Warriors. Karweaye on the next pus session r esponded with a sliding kick that that found its way in for the score. With just under 24:19 to play, ECCC kd 1-0. The Bulldogs attempll·d three corner kicks, but two of them sailed high. Gulf Coast's Phillip Marshall sparked the Bulldogs' biggest scoring threat as he and Ellis made a play down fi e ld that opened up a 25-yard kick from Brock Moss that made it into the goal for the lie at 1-1 with just 12:15 1eft. ECCC fought off 15 attempts by Gulf Coast to end the last 20 minutes of play to extend llw game into overtime. "We needed to finish it, they put us back on our heels," said ECCC head coach Kennl'lh Thompson. ECCC got into Bulldog ter– ritory with three lefl but two scoring attempts failed to dost: out the game, with doublt·– overlime approaching. Once double-overtin11 began the Bulldogs had ample opportunity to put the ganw iu the bag. After a miss by Mar– shall, Nick Moran's kick wa<; blocked by Ditto. ECCC ends the season with a 9-6-3 record overall and u divi– sion record of 5-3-2 Gulf Coast will host the play– offs on Saturday in tiH: nuruher one position as they linish out the regular season at 9 1-:1 with a division record of f). I I.

tion. Meridian Community Col– lcgt will advance as the second team from the South. Gulf Coast will remain with the lop seed as both teams wait for '' winner from the North– west-Hines game. The visiting Bulldogs made the first scoring attempt with :Ryan Ceccorallie threatening, but the header by Brent Orr didn't pull through. The Bulldogs put pressure on the Warriors with back-to– hack shots. Orr passed to Kyle Ellis who retrieved his own rebound and tried to connect with Steve Chisholm. Chisholm's shot sailed high as Warrior defender Chris Stevens played solid defense. ECCC made a move with Kyle Miller and John Theobald trying to get the ball to Seltue Karweaye. Orr made a strong defensive play and the Bulldogs regained possession Keeper Corey Kemp made huge stops for ECCC. Kyle Ellis on a pass from Joe McKinney couldn't sneak one by, as the play proved to be a confident

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PHOTO BY CARISAMCCAIN /THE MERIDIAN STAR

HIGH FLYING er JlllllJ)S over Gulf Coast's Jason Cannan on ECCC's rain-drenched soccer

ECCC' pitch

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