Friday, May 15, 2004

Panthers edge Newnan, advance to state finals

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

It was an ugly game, but a win is a win.

Starr’s Mill had several missed scoring opportunities throughout the game, but the game was really ugly due to numerous fouls, cards and player ejections for Newnan and horrible sportsmanship from a number of Newnan fans.

Newnan makes no excuse for their physical play, but Tuesday’s game seemed a bit over the top. Not only were two Starr’s Mill players injured to the point that they may be not be available for the final, but Newnan earned five yellow cards, one red and one soft red, meaning the player was ejected on receiving his second yellow card, but Newnan could substitute a player in.

Starr’s Mill midfielder Wes Kent was injured less than five minutes into the game, sustaining a knee injury that kept him out of the Newnan game and may keep him out of the final against Brookwood on Friday. Starr’s Mill had most of the momentum for the first half but Newnan pushed the ball up the field for a few minutes and had a few scoring chances on offense roughly half way through the first half. With 11 minutes left in the first half, C.J. Cooper was taken down by a Newnan player in a play that resulted in a red card for Newnan, forcing them to play with only 10 players for the remainder of the game. Cooper left the field clutching his arm, as Newnan students and several parents, upset by the red card call, shouted at the referee and mocked Cooper, who left the game to go to the hospital for a possible broken arm.

The score was tied 0-0 at the half.

Starr’s Mill had most of the momentum in the second half and though play remained physical, it was fair. The Panthers broke through when Trey Maughan headed in a ball from Corey Cross. The goal was extra special for Maughan because he scored the game-winner on his 18th birthday. Within five minutes, cards were being thrown again as Newnan got a yellow and a minute later Starr’s Mill’s Riley Phelps got a yellow card. Two more yellow cards were presented to Newnan, both to the same player, but most of the play stayed in the Newnan half and Starr’s Mill emerged victorious.

“There were a lot of fouls in this game, just like the last time we played them,” said Starr’s Mill coach Mike Hanie, visibly upset at the way the game was played. “I’m glad we won but we lost two players tonight, probably for the rest of the year. I’m proud my team kept their heads tonight though. It’s tough to do in a game like this.”

Starr’s Mill will host Brookwood tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Brookwood, currently ranked number one in the state with a record of 17-2-3, beat Starr’s Mill 1-0 on Feb. 21 in the Kroger Invitational Tournament. They have made it to the finals by beating Kell and Chattahoochee, 2-1; Fayette County, 4-0 and Kennesaw Mountain, 2-1. Starr’s Mill is 15-2-4 overall.

Info box

Class AAAAAA state soccer championship

Starr’s Mill vs. Brookwood

Starr’s Mil High School

Friday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.