May 4
Knights Break Broncos in Another Close Encounter 2-0

By: Bruce Moore - Last updated on: Thu May 6, 10 (14:58).

The Centennial Knights hosted the #8 5A 12-5-0 Brookwood Broncos at the Fortress for the second time this season. This time, it was the 2nd round of the 5A Championship with a trip to the Quarterfinals on the line. The Knights won the first match 3-0 and were looking for a repeat. The Broncos wanted the second time to be the charm.

The first half started with the Broncos and Knights looking for opportunities, but neither getting past the other’s defense. The Knights defense kept the Broncos off balance moving up the back line and putting the Broncos offside. The Broncos controlled and had more possession time, but the Knights had more opportunities, several on long throw-ins by senior midfielder Alec Kronitz. The first half ended scoreless. The Knights lead in shots with 6, but only 2 on goal. The Broncos were more accurate with their 2 of 3 shots on goal. Both keepers, the Broncos' senior Alejandro Leonidas and the Knights' senior Brendan Moore, were there for the saves.

In the opening minutes of second half the defenses continued to be the story. The Knights had several opportunities on long throw-ins, the Broncos with several organized attacks. The match went back and forth until minute 61 when the Knights took the ball at midfield and went up top to senior forward Carlos McCrary. McCrary took space and sent the shot passed the keeper for the 1-0 lead. For the next 20 minutes the Broncos kept up the pressure, attacking with the long ball. The Knight’s goalkeeper controlled the box and made several long clears. The Knights’ defense remained solid and was able to turn back each attack, while mounting several counters. The Broncos' best opportunity came on a shot from just outside the 18 by junior midfielder Erick Yang, a near miss wide of the far post. The Knights scored in the 79th minute when a Bronco foul at the 30 yard mark resulted in a Kronitz free kick that just got by the keeper and gave the Knights the 2-0 win.

March 23rd
Knights Split with Kell HS in 6 AAAAA Matches

Knights' GV Fall in Shootout with Kell Longhorns

The Knights were looking to get back to a .500 record in both region and overall when they hosted the Longhorns at the Fortress last Tuesday. With a 1-2-0 region and 4-5-0 overall record, a region victory would put them back into a playoff hunt.

The Longhorns picked up on a Knights’ miscue in the midfield in the 4^th minute of the first half. Kell sophomore forward Nikki Caldara took a stray pass from 40 yards out and was able get through the defense for the goal. The majority of play in the rest of the half was spent in the middle third and with the Knights trying to find an opening in the Longhorn defense. The whistle blew ending the half with the Longhorns leading 1-0.

In the second half the Knights came out strong. In the 45^th minute the Knights earned a corner kick from the right side. Sophomore midfielder Jordan Morell (2^nd assist) served the ball near the goal area where sophomore defender Jenna Moore (2^nd goal) put it into the net for the equalizer. The half remained at 1-1, although senior forward Chesney Jones had some great runs and good looks at the Longhorn goal. The teams moved to the two 5 minute overtime periods, the Knights’ 4^th overtime match. Following the two overtimes the match remained knotted a 1.

The Longhorns and Knights headed for a shootout, penalty kicks from the mark. The Knights’ shot first, hit the right upright for a miss. The Longhorns made there next 4 kicks and won the shoot out 4-3, and for the record a 1-0 win.

The Knights are now 1-3-0 in region play and 4-6-0 overall with 17 goals scored and 18 against. The Knights play at Wheeler HS next Monday, March 29^th at 5:30 PM.

Knights' BV Wrangles Longhorns 6-0

The Knights met the Longhorns in a region 6 AAAAA match at the Fortress on Tuesday. The Knights needed a victory to stay in the mix for the region crown after their shoot out loss to Lassiter the previous Friday night.

It did not take long for the Knights to light the scoreboard. In minute 4, senior midfielder Alec Kronitz (9^th assist) had a perfect cross to senior midfielder Mitchell Williams (3^rd goal) at the 6 for header and the 1-0 lead. The Knight’s offense continued the pressure, but did not find net again until the 29^th minute when junior midfielder Jon Coleman’s (1^st) corner kick connected for senior forward Carlos McCrary’s (13^th) header from the 5. The scoring was over for the half, but there was an exciting “almost” in the 38^th minute. With the Knight’s defense outnumbered, senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore came off his line to help in the Knight’s left corner. A Longhorn pass back to the center 25 yard mark gave Kell a shot at an open goal. With the ball about a yard from the goal, Brendan, in a wide receiver’s flying horizontal leap was able to get a hand on the ball for the save, preserving the 2-0 score.    

The second half was more of the first half, only with twice the scoring. A Longhorn foul in the penalty area gave Carlos (14^th) a penalty kick in minute 47. The Knight’s continued to pressure and in minute 66 found net again when Carlos (3^rd) drove the right touch line and served it to Jon (1^st) who finished it for the 4-0 lead. Two minutes later, junior forward Brandon Schmidt (1^st) took the ball, passed to Carlos (15^th), who went by two defenders and goalie for the score. The final goal came in minute 77, sophomore midfielder Mason Herndon (1^st) gathered a loose ball on the right side and crossed to sophomore midfielder Amin El-Shami (2^nd) for the final 6-0 score.

The Knights are now 3-1-0 in 3^rd place in 6 AAAAA. They are 7-3-0 overall with 34 goals scored and 10 against.  The Knights play at Wheeler HS next Monday, March 29^th at 7:30 PM.   

Friday, March 19
Knights Drop Two to Trojans at The Frank

Knights’ GV Tangle with Trojans Ends in 4-1 Loss

It was a beautiful evening at Lassiter High School as the Knights and Trojans lined up for their region 6 AAAAA match. The Knights, 1-1-0 in region and 4-4 overall were looking for an important region win against the Trojans. The Trojans records were 3-0-0 in region and 5-1 overall.  

The Knights were under pressure from the start, but held off the Trojans offense until minute 15 minute when a shot from center by junior midfielder Amanda Abbot found net. Two minutes later a Knights’ foul set up a Trojan direct free kick from the 18 that sophomore midfielder Marin Abousaud put it in the upper 90 for the score. The Knights defense settled in and the score stayed 2-0 for the rest of the half.

In the second half, the Knights offense developed some opportunities and the defense continued to keep the Trojans out of the danger zone. In the 66^th minute, the Knight’s sophomore midfielder Jordan Morell (3^rd Goal) was able to work her way up the right side and fired a shot into the net for the unassisted goal. The Knight’s were back in the match. In the 72^nd minute a Trojan corner kick by Marin Abousaud was headed into the goal by her sister, senior forward Aseala Abousaud and the Trojans were back up by 2 with 8 minutes left. The Knights continued to press forward, but the match was put away when in the 75^th minute, Trojan sophomore midfielder Abby Lutzenkirchen, put away an unassisted goal for the 4-1 final score. The Knights were now 1-2 in region play and 4-5 overall.

Knights' BV Draws Trojans in Regulation and Overtime, Lose 3-2 in Shootout

The Knights took their 2-0-0 region record to Marietta to meet the Lassiter HS. The Trojans were 2-1-0 in region play. The records indicated that the match would be a shoot out at The Frank. It was, but not that kind of shootout.

The match started out relatively even, with both the Trojans and Knights vying for control of the midfield and mounting an attack when the opportunity presented. By the end of the half, the Trojans had the advantage in possession time, but it was the Knights that had the closest encounters with the net. The Knights were close, but not able to find net. In the half, the Trojans lead with 8 shots on goal to 3 for the Knights. Fortunately, Knight’s senior GK Brendan Moore was in position for 8 saves, including two rockets from inside the penalty area. It was 0-0 at half.

The second half plot followed along the lines of the first. This time the Knight’s offense had two real close calls with the goal as senior forward Carlos McCrary was able to get behind the Trojan defenders but could not put it away. The defenses continued to thwart any goal scoring opportunities and the match ended at nil-nil. The Knights lead with 7 shot attempts, 2 on goal. By rule, the match went to two 5 minutes overtime periods, both were scoreless. The winner would now be decided in penalty kicks from the mark.

The Knights were the first to the mark; senior defender Alec Kronitz made it look easy with a rocket to the back of the net. Trojan junior midfielder Tyler Happ then tied the score at 1 with his kick. Freshman Knight Cameron Bean was next; his shot was blocked by Trojan senior goalkeeper Shane Parman. Not to be out done, Brendan also saved the next shot by the Trojans. Carlos then went to the mark, his shot blocked by the Trojan GK, for his second save in a row. The Trojans were set to take a 2-1 lead, but Brendan also got his second save and the score remained 1 -1 at the end of 3 rounds. Senior Mitchell Williams came to the mark and his shot went about an inch over the crossbar, leaving an opening for the Trojans. The Trojans took advantage and went up 2-1 with 1 round to go, maybe.  Brendan stepped up next and put a low shot to the left of the keeper, it was tied at 2 with a Trojan with a shot left for the win. Trojan defender Alex “Bubba” Hanks, a sophomore, headed to the line and put it into the net. The Trojans had the victory and a 3-1 region record, while the Knights were now 2-1 in region and fell to 6-3 overall.

Tuesday, March 16
There is Bad News and Good News from the Fortress

GV Knights Can’t Keep Up with Greyhounds, Lose 5-1

The Knights entered the region match with a 4 match winning streak and an overall 4-3-0 record, 1-0-0 in region. The Knights’ had their first winning overall and region record since prior to 2004. The Pope Greyhounds, with their 3-0 overall and 2-0 region record, were between the Knights and their best start since 2001.

The Greyhounds started off quickly, testing the Knights and looking to penetrate the defense. The pressure continued and in the 22^nd minute, a Greyhound shot, saved by senior goalkeeper Hannah Valerio, rebounded to Greyhounds’ senior midfielder Darcy Hannon and was put in the net for the 1-0 score. Just five minutes later, the Greyhounds scored again when junior forward Kelly Reilly gathered a loose ball inside the box and made it 2-0. The Greyhounds made it 3-0 when sophomore midfielder Emily Gaid found net in the 26^th minute. The Greyhound carried that lead until halftime.

The Knights mounted a comeback in the second half as the defense stiffened and the offense began to pressure the Greyhounds. The Knights’ goal came in the 60^th minute when sophomore midfielder Jordan Morell (1^st assist) sent the ball forward to senior forward Chesney Jones (7^th goal) who went by a defender for the finish and the 3-1 score. The Greyhounds, however, were not done yet as goals by senior midfielder Madison Zinsenheim and junior forward Ryann Davie in the final 20 minutes put the match away.

The Knights travel to Lassiter HS (5-1-0, 3-0-0) this Friday, March 19^th for a region match with the Trojans. The Knights are now 4-4 and 1-1 in region with 15 goals scored and 12 against.

Knights’ BV Offense Rebounds Against Greyhounds 5-0

With the loss to Chattahoochee still fresh on their minds, the Knights faced a region 6 AAAAA opponent, the Pope HS Greyhounds. The Greyhounds, 1-2-2 overall and 1-1-0 in region, were looking for the region win at the Fortress.

The Knights quickly put the memory of the shutout by the Chattahoochee behind them when in the 5^th minute senior midfielder Mitchell Williams (4^th assist) found senior forward Carlos McCrary (10^th goal) driving up the right side with a perfect pass. It allowed Carlos to run past the defender for the 1-0 lead. The teams then settled into attacks and counters, with the Knights having the edge in procession and shots. In the 31^st minute, Williams (5^th) and McCrary (11^th) teamed up again for duplicate of the first goal and the Knights were up 2-0. They took that score into half time.

The second half started off with a goal as in the 41^st minute senior forward Alec Kronitz (8^th) found Carlos (12^th) open for the 3-0 score and Carlos’ first hat trick of the season. In the 46^th minute, a Greyhound foul in the penalty area put Alec (8^th) on the PK mark for his 8^th goal of the season. The defense continued to hold off the Greyhounds and in the 71^st minute got into the offensive action when senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore (2^nd) blasted a long pass to Alec at the 10. Alec (9^th) controlled the ball with a single touch, turned and fired a bullet into the net for the 5-0 final score.

The Knights are now 6-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in region play. They have scored 28 goals and allowed 10. Next up, the Knights play at the 5-1-0 (2-1-0) Lassiter Trojans on Friday.

Friday, March 12
Knights Split with Rival Chattahoochee Cougars at Fortress

Knights’ GV Defeats Cougars in Overtime (again) 3-2

The GV match started like many others, but might have actually begun one the longest nights in Centennial High School soccer history. The kick-off happened promptly at 6:00 PM, but it wasn’t until 3 hours and 10 minutes later that Knights could claim the victory.

The Knights opened the first half very strong, making good runs and putting pressure on the Cougars’ defense. When the Cougars countered, the Knights repelled the attacks and answered with another counter of their own. The Knights broke through in the 8^th minute when senior forward Chesney Jones (1^st assist) sent a service to junior forward Allison Motter (2^nd goal) for the score. In the 22^nd minute, the match was stopped for a weather delay. One hour and 22 minutes later, the teams were back on the pitch. It was now the Cougars turn to start strong and quickly developed several opportunities. They found net in minute 33 when freshman forward Dallas Davis struck at the 18 for the equalizer. The 2 hour and 7 minute first half ended with the teams knotted at 1.

The second half saw both teams playing well and moving the ball up and down the pitch. The Knights went ahead in the 54^th minute on a goal by Chesney (6^th) running on to a through ball by senior midfielder Laura Gaziano (1^st). The Cougars’ Dallas Davis struck again 14 minutes later, her second equalizer of the match. Regulation time ended at 8:55 PM and the teams got ready for two 5 minute periods. It was the Knights’ third overtime match of the season.

The first overtime period ended with no score. At three minutes into the second overtime it looked like the Cougars and Knights would decide the match from the penalty mark. With two minutes left, the Knights earned a corner kick and sophomore midfielder Jordan Morell put the ball into play from the left side. The kick landed at center, just outside the goal area, the Knights put several touches on the ball, but it was sophomore defender Jenna Moore (1^st) who put away the winning goal with 1:43 left. Sophomore defender Paige McKay (1^st) had the assist, and the Knights had their 4^th win of the season.

Knights BV Find Rival Cougars Too Much to Handle, Lose 2-0

It became apparent that Knights do not like matches to begin after 9:00 PM, and the Cougars are okay with it. It might have been the late start, it may have been the weather. Whatever it was, it was not good for the Knights as they were out shot, outscored and out played by the rival Cougars of Chattahoochee High School.

The match started even enough, in the first 15 minutes the Knights had several attacks and got off a couple of shots. That didn’t last long however, and in the 29^th minute the Cougars’ junior midfielder Annon Lapkip drilled a shot from 25 yards center that senior keeper Brendan Moore seemed to have in his hands, but it deflected up and over into the goal for the 1-0 Cougar lead. The match continued with the Cougars in control, with more procession time and out shooting the Knights 9 to 3 in the half. It should be noted that the high scoring senior duo, Alec Kronitz and Carlos McCrary both left the match during the half due to injuries and did not return to the match.

The second half was very similar to the first, with the Cougars attacking and the Knights on defense. The Cougars second goal came in the 55^th minute when sophomore midfielder Kevin Hady received a service and put a shot just to the left of junior goalkeeper Austin Tillison. The final 25 minutes were scoreless and the Cougars took the non-region match by the final score of 2-0.  

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Two Wins at Home over Campbell High School Spartans

Knights GV wins Region Opener, Defeat Campbell Spartans 8-0
With an offensive explosion over the struggling Spartans of Campbell High School, the Knights are 1-0 in region play and brought their season record to .500.  The 3-3-0 overall record is the first time since March 28, 2006 that the Knights have been at .500 mark and the first 3 match win streak since prior to 2004.

The Knights got going early as senior forward Carey McKay (1^st goal) took the ball at the 12 and sent the shot past the Spartan keeper for the 1-0 lead in the 5^th minute. That started an offensive barrage that came fast and furious at the Spartans. Not since Thermopylae have the Spartans been under such pressure. It should be noted that while the attacks and goals were plentiful, Spartan sophomore keeper Jeanne Bosworth and freshman defender Jana Hamilton played well, both with solid defensive play and many saves.

The Knights played as a team, passing well, staying organized and with good distribution that led to several players scoring goals, including senior forward Chesney Jones (4^th) with 4, sophomore midfielder Jordan Morell (2^nd) with 1, senior midfielder Laura Gaziano (1^st) with 1 and  junior forward Allison Motter (1^st) with 1. Junior defender Asheton Board (2) had 2 assists, both off great throw ins. The Knights are 3-3-0 overall with 11 goals and 5 allowed.

Knights BV defeat Campbell Spartans in Region 6AAAAA Debut

The Knights welcomed the Campbell Spartans to the Fortress for their first 6 5A match of the season. The Spartans came to the Fortress with a 0-4-0 overall and a 0-3-0 region record. The Knight’s were ranked # 2 in 5A and # 3 in the all class rankings by EurosportScoreboard.com with a 4-1-0 record.

The Knights started off quickly with a goal in the 3^rd minute when senior forwards Carlos McCrary (8^th goal) and Alex Kronitz (7^th assist) connected. Carlos took Alec’s cross at the 20, ran past a defender and shot from the 6 for the 1-0 lead. On the following kickoff, junior forward Leo Silva (1) intercepted the Spartan’s pass and sent it forward to Carlos (9^th) who applied a double header past the Spartan keeper for the goal. In the 18^th minute a Spartan counter attack was stopped and the Knight’s defense pushed up. At the 35 yard mark, senior defender Michael Hampl sent the ball forward, but it connected with Spartan junior midfielder Osvaldo Solis’ raised knee and deflected 38 yards back for a very pretty unassisted goal. The Spartans trailed by 1, but that was short lived as sophomore midfielder Amin El Shami (1^st) picked up a loose ball in the Spartan box in the 22^nd  minute and finished it from the 10 to make the score 3-1 score, which held through half time.

In the second half, the Knights played control soccer and picked their opportunities judiciously. The first came in minute 48 when sophomore defender Connor Davis (1) passed to Alec (6^th) who ran past a defender on the left side for the goal. The Knight’s struck again in minute 66 when Carlos (4) sent the ball deep into the box where Leo (2^nd) put a head on it to send it by the keeper for the 5-1 score. The final score came in the 70^th minute when senior midfielder Mitchell Williams (2) sent a through ball to Alec (7^th) driving for the final tally and the 6-1 win.
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Friday, March 6th, 2010
Welcome Home! Knights Win 2 at The Fortress

Knights GV Win in Overtime Again, 1-0 over South Forsyth War Eagles
The Knights second match with a War Eagle was amazingly similar to the first one. This time it was the South Forsyth War Eagles, who brought their 0-3-1 to the Fortress. The match was a defensive battle with both teams holding their opponent scoreless in both halves.
Both teams had chance in regulation time, but the defenses held firm. The Knight’s back line with junior Ashton Board and sophomores Paige McKay, Jenna Moore and Allison Morgan continued the sterling defensive play they had demonstrated in the first four matches. Senior goalkeeper Hannah Valerio was there for the stop or save when needed in the first half and sophomore keeper Lauren Skorb filled that role in the second. The Knights senior forwards Chesney Jones and Carey McKay applied pressure with several opportunities; however the War Eagles defense was also up to the task. For the second match in row, the Knights found themselves at 0-0 at the end of the regulation 80 minutes and headed for overtime with the War Eagles.
The Knights did not take much of the overtime period to go up 1-nil as Jenna (2nd assist) found senior midfielder Mary Lommen in the area in the 83rd minute and Mary sent the ball into the back of net for the lead. The Knight’s continued to hold the War Eagles in check, winning their 2nd match of the season and bringing their record to 2-3. The Knights have scored 3 goals and allowed 5. They have two shut outs.

Knights BV Back on Track with Win over South Forsyth War Eagles 4-1
In 2009 the Knights went to South Forsyth and came home with a 3-1 defeat by the War Eagles. This year it was the Knights turn to host the match and hopefully use the home turf advantage. The War Eagles entered the match with a 1-3-0 record with 5 goals and 8 goals against.
The match started evenly with the teams controlling and looking for opportunities to get behind the defense. The Knights got their chance in the 24th minute when senior forward Alex Kronitz (6th assist) sent a pass forward to senior forward Carlos McCrary (6th goal), Carlos made a run up the left side passed two defenders and shot from the 10 for the goal. The War Eagles came back for the equalizer in minute 38 when a rebound was tracked down on the 6 by senior forward Washington Cafferatta, who put it by the Knights’ goalkeeper. The half ended with the 1-1 score.
In the second half, the Knights offense got off to a quick start as in the 44th minute Carlos (7th) took a loose ball, ran passed a defender and finished for the Knight 3-1 lead. In minute 48, a War Eagles foul gave the Knights an indirect free kick from the center at the 25 yard mark. Senior midfielder Mitchell Williams (2nd) touch the ball as Alec (5th) drilled the banana kick into the upper 90. The final goal came in minute 67 when a long pass from senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore found midfielder Leo Silva (1st) who quickly passed it on to Alec (5th) for goal and the 4-1 final.
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Moday, March 4, 2010
Teams travel to Woodward Academy for Split with War Eagles

Knights GV in Yet Another Defensive Battle, Defeat Woodward War Eagles 1-0 in OT
The GV Knights traveled to the #2 3A and # 13 All Class ranked Woodward Academy on Saturday. The Knights hadn’t scored since the 74th minute of the season opener, however that streak was broken Saturday evening, but it took an overtime period to get it done. The Knights and the War Eagles play a very good match, where the defenses dominated.
Both teams had their opportunities to score but the defense was always there to turn back the attack, make a key stop or prevent the service. The regulation time was fairly even with an edge to the War Eagles in procession and shots. However, edges don’t count on the scoreboard and it still read 0-0 at the end of the 80 minutes of regulation time. Senior Hannah Valerio and Sophomore Lauren Skorb took care of the goalkeeping duties and each had several saves to keep the Knights in the match.
The first 5 minute overtime period saw the War Eagles come out with several attacks that the Knights were able to stop and then counter attack. In the 84th minute the War eagles were moving forward at midfield when sophomore defender Jenna Moore (1st assist) made the stop and sent the ball up the left side to sophomore midfielder Jordan Morrell (1st goal). Jordan took two steps forward the reversed and took a left footed shot from the 25 that sailed over the defense and goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The Knights were up 1-0 with 6 minutes left to play. The goal inspired the team as they continued their attacks until the whistle ended the match. The Knights have their first victory of the season and headed home to play South Forsyth on Saturday.

Woodward Academy Stump Knights BV Offense, Wins 2-1
The BV Knights also traveled to Woodward Academy on Saturday to play the # 4 3A and # 13 All Class ranked War Eagles. The War Eagles held some surprises for Knights, the biggest was handing them a 2-1 loss.

The first half started with the two teams controlling and testing the others’ defense, looking for opportunities to get inside the penalty area for a close encounter. The Knight’s brought out a new look to the offense for the match, hoping to get more midfield control. However, it was the War Eagles who were more successful with 7 shots to the Knight’s 2. Sophomore goalkeeper Austin Tillison made a good save in the 35th minute to keep the match scoreless and the half ended 0-0.

The second started with the Knights coming out strong and putting pressure on the War Eagles’ back line. In the 49th minute the Knight broke through when a War Eagle foul gave senior forward Alec Kronitz (5th assist) a free kick from the 30 yard mark on the left side. The kick went over the defense and was headed ever so slightly by senior forward Carlos McCrary (5th goal) on the 6; enough to put it passed the Woodward goalkeeper and put the Knights up 1-0. That would not last long however, as the War Eagles responded in the 51st minute with a take-away at midfield and quick a pass to the open # 9 Mike Kendall inside the penalty area with a shot to right of senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore to make the score 1-1. The War Eagles defensive play continued to thwart any Knights’ threats, and in the 68th the War Eagles got behind the defense and a nice service to forward Don Collins at the back door for the match winner. The final score was 2-1 with the War Eagles outshooting the Knights 15 to 6 and the defense holding the Knights, who were averaging 4.0 per match, to 1 goal.
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Monday, March 1, 2010
Knights BV wins 3-0 at Fortress Opener, Defense Breaks Broncos

     In a predictably close match, the Knights won a “closer then score indicates” victory over the # 4 Brookwood Broncos at the Fortress Tuesday evening. The Broncos are currently ranked # 5 in the EurosportScoreboard 5A poll and were the 2009 8AAAAA Champions. They entered the match with 9 goals scored and 3 against.

     The match started with the Broncos playing a control match and the Knights a very direct one, mounting quick attacks. The Broncos had the edge in shots at the end of the half, but it was the Knight who controlled the score. In minute 23, a Knights’ earned a corner kick from the right side. Senior forward Alec Kronitz (3rd assist) serve it up to sophomore defender Connor Davis (1st goal) for a beautiful header and a 1-0 lead. The Knights defensive back four, senior Michael Hampl and sophomores Ryan Spence, Fischer Olliff and Connor Davis along with senior defending midfielder Mitchell Williams, kept the Broncos’ offense at bay. And when a Bronco attack did get close, senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore was there for the stop and “air traffic control”.

     The second half began with more of the same, the Broncos controlling in the midfield and the Knights turning away the attacks and sending the long ball to senior forwards Carlos McCrary and Alec Kronitz. The scoreless half ended in the 67th minute when Brendan (1) punted the ball to Carlos on the Bronco 25. Carlos (4) then turned and moved passed two Bronco defenders and the keeper for the 2-0 lead. The third goal came just 2 minutes later when Alec (4) drove down the right side and sent a cross into the box where junior midfielder Leo Silva (1) applied a perfect finish. The defense continued its sterling play and the midfield got stronger, holding in the Broncos scoreless in the match. The Knights are 3-0-0, with 12 goals for and 4 against.

Knights GV and # 5 Brookwood Broncos in Another Defensive Battle

The Knights welcomed the Brookwood Broncos to The Fortress and faced their third ranked team in as many matches. The Broncos are ranked # 3 in the EurosportScoreboard 5A poll brought their 3-0-0 record to validate it. The Knights had already played the # 2 Harrison, # 8 Peachtree Ridge and # 7 North Gwinnett, so # 3 fit right in.

The entire match was a defensive battle. Both teams had their chances to break it open, but excellent performances in the defensive thirds kept the match scoreless. Senior goalkeeper Hannah Valerio controlled the box for the Knights and Bronco keeper Taylor Strickland did the same. Senior forwards Chesney Jones and Carey McKay put pressure on the Broncos’ defenders, but could not find net. At halftime, the edge in shots and possession went to the Broncos, but it was clearly anyone’s match.

In the second half the Knights continued to move the ball against the Broncos through solid passing, good organization and shape. The defense was also up to the challenge, holding the Bronco’s Auburn University bound Jordan Miller and junior forward Washida Blackman in check, led by junior and sophomore defenders, Asheton Board and Jenna Moore. The Broncos finally broke through in the 84th minute when Bronco junior Chelsea Turner took a pass on right side, drove forward, then turned and ripped a shot from the 20 that went over sophomore keeper Lauren Skorb’s outstretched arms for the goal.

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Friday, February 26th, 2010
 Teams travel to Harrison for Split with Hoyas

Knights GV Defense Tough Against Harrison in 2-0 Loss

     The Girls Varsity traveled to Kennesaw to play the 2009 5A and preseason ranked # 2 Harrison Hoyas in a 5A interregional match on Friday. The Knights, at 0-1-0, were coming off a tough loss to # 7 Peachtree Ridge and were looking for a win over the 1-0-0 Hoyas to get on track.

     The match was defensive battle at both ends of the pitch. The Hoyas had the Knights under pressure in the first half, but the Knights also had several scoring opportunities. The Hoyas broke through in the 18th minute when a strike from the left side found net. While both teams had several attacks and counter attacks in the remaining minutes, the half ended with the Hoyas up 1-0.

     The second half continued with the Knights defense holding strong and the offense looking for an opening in the Hoya defense to put away the equalizer, but it was not to be. In the final minutes of play, with the Knights were pushing up for the attack, the Hoyas countered and scored with 1:27 on the clock. The goal put the match away and the Knights had their second loss of the season to a highly ranked 5A team.

Knights BV Offense Overpowers Hoyas 5-2

     The BV Knights came out almost as strong as they had finished the season opener at Peach Ridge. The Knights match was almost the complete opposite at Harrison High School. This time the Knights were ready to go as the whistle blew.

     The half started with the Knights and Hoyas vying for control for the first 10 minutes. Both offenses tested the defense and both defenses held firm until the 14th minute, when senior Mitchell Williams (1st assist) found senior Carlos McCrary (3rd goal) open and Carlos got by the defender for the 1-0 lead. In the 28th minute a Hoya foul gave the Knights a free kick from 28 yards, Mitchell (2) struck the ball perfectly over the wall into the net and it was 2-0 Knights. The Knights defense continued to play well with senior central defender Michael Hampl in the right place at the right time and senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore controlling his box and gathering anything in the air. The half ended with the Knights leading 2-0.

     The second half continued with Knights taking control and attacking the Hoyas defense from almost every angle. Senior forward Alec Kronitz (1) in the 52nd minute picked up a loose ball on the right side and sent it about 30 yards over the defense and keeper for the 3-0 lead. In minute 60th minute, Carlos (2) driving down the left side sent a service to Alec (2) in the box and it was 4-0 with 20 minutes to go. The Knights and Alec were not done yet, as Alec (3) picked up a deflection on the right side in the 72nd minute and went by 3 defenders and the keeper for a hat trick and the 5-0 score. The Hoyas were back on their heels, but came back with two goals in the last 5 minutes. In minute 75 a corner kick was headed towards the goal and then redirected by the Hoyas’ senior forward Marcos Rosa for the goal. Marcos scored again three minutes later on a rebound off a shot deflected off the crossbar by Brendan. Marcos was there for the finished and the final 5-2 score. The Knights are now 2-0-0 with 9 goals and 4 against.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Soccer Season Opens with Two Thrillers
at Peachtree Ridge

Knights in Georgia SoccerSource.com’s
“Featured Games of the Week” 

Girls Varsity Loses 2-1 On Last Minute Goal by # 7 Ranked Lions

The Knights solid performance against the Peachtree Ridge Lions went unrewarded as the Lions scored with 30 seconds left on the clock for the 2-1 victory. The match was well played by both teams and the Knights had opportunities against the 7AAAAA Powerhouse.

In the first half, the Lions kept the pressure on the Knights’ defense. The Lions found net in the 18^th minute when a shot was blocked by Knight’s senior goalkeeper Hannah Valerio for the save. The rebound went wide of goal and Lion’s Alexis Scott crossed it to team mate Alana Dineen for the goal. The half ended with the Lions up 1-0.

The second half continued to be a defensive battle with both teams holding and mounting counter attacks. Senior forward Chesney Jones was able to get by the defenders on several occasions, but the Lion’s goalkeeper kept them in the lead. In minute 84, a Knights’ counter attack worked the ball down the pitch, freshman midfielder Hannah Andrews (1^st goal) dribbled inside the area and shot. The goal tied the match at 1-1 with less than four minutes left. While the Knights continued to pressure the Lions, it looked like the match would end in a draw. With one minute left, a Lions’ counter attack found the Knights’ defense pressing up. The Lions’ Alana Dileen drove down the left side, crossing the ball to Alexis Scott for the finish with 30 seconds on the clock. The match ended with the Knights down 2-1 to the highly rated Lions.

The Georgia Soccer Source named sophomore central defender Jenna Moore the Knight’s “Feature Game of the Week’s Most Valuable Player” for her defensive play.

 Boys Varsity Wins 4-2 with 4 Unanswered Goals in Last 18 Minutes

The Knights, ranked # 2 in the EurosportScoreboard.com preseason poll, opened the season with the # 7 ranked Lions. The two teams played twice last season, each winning once, the Lions 2-1 on February 10^th and the Knights 3-1 in the second round of the playoffs. The match promised to be a good one.

The Knights came out and took control; or at least it looked like they were in control. The Lions defense played well and while the Knights were putting on pressure, the Lions were scoring goals. The first came in minute 25 when Lion Andres Rodriguez put a service through the box that Knights’ senior goalkeeper Brendan Moore deflected to the left of goal. Lion forward Jeremy Rector was there for the rebound and the 1-0 lead. The second Lion goal came just three minutes later on a pass from Rodriguez to Rector, who got by the defensive back four and chipped over Moore, putting the Lions up 2-0. At halftime the Lions had four shots to the Knights’ ten, but led 2-0.

The Knights must have warmed up at halftime, because even with the temperature in the thirties, the team got hot in the second half. For the first 20 minutes the two teams played attack and counter attack, with both defenses holding. In the 63^rd minute, Knight’s senior forward Carlos McCrary drove the right goal line and was dragged down inside the penalty area. Senior midfielder Mitch Williams (1^st goal) drilled the penalty kick and the Knights were trailing by a goal. Just 5 minutes later, with the Knights’ attacking, junior midfielder Jon Coleman (1) put a loose ball into the net from inside the 12 for the equalizer. The Lions defense was under pressure and the Knights were just getting started. In the 72^nd minute, senior midfielder Alex Kronitz (1^st assist) sent a a pass forward to McCrary (1) who beat the defense for the 3-1 lead. The fourth Knight’s goal came in the 75^th minute when the same combo, Kronitz (2) to McCrary (2), put the Knights up 4-2.

For his two goal performance, senior Carlos McCrary was named the Knights’ “Feature Game of the Week Most Valuable Player” by Georgia Soccer Source.

Following the match Coach Thomas commented “The team showed great commitment to keep their heads up and find a way to win.  We still have a lot to work on, so we need to get our legs back and be ready to work at practice.”

 Both coaches will be getting their teams ready to play at Harrison HS on Friday. The Hoyas GV is currently ranked # 2 in 5A and beat Lassiter HS 4-1 Tuesday. The BV also played at Lassiter, losing 0-4 in the interregional match. The GV kicks off at 5:30 PM and the BV at 7:30 PM.  ____________________________________________________________
Girl’s and Boy’s Varsity Teams Kick Off Tuesday at Peachtree Ridge Lions

     The Knight’s 2010 Soccer Season gets started this Tuesday, February 23rd as the varsity teams travel to Peachtree Ridge High School to meet the Lions in a non-conference match. The Girls match kicks off at 5:30 PM and the Boys at 7:30 PM. This is the second season these two schools have met in the season opener; in 2009 the Lions won both matches played at the Fortress.

     The Knights’ varsity girls started the 2010 season with some big holes to fill, losing 8 players to graduation. The 2009 team missed the playoffs, ending the season with a 4-5-0 in region play and a 4-12-0 overall record. Coach Wadley will build on the experience of the 9 returning players to make the playoff run. The returning players include 3 sophomores, defender Jenna Moore, midfielder Jordan Morell and goalkeeper Lauren Skorb, a junior, midfielder Asheton Board and 5 seniors, defenders Laura Gaziano, Carey McKay, forward Chesney Jones, midfielder Mary Lommen, and goalkeeper Hannah Valerio. Hannah has recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Mars Hill College (NC).

     The Knights’ varsity boys start the season with the 2009 still fresh in their memories, finishing ranked #2 in Georgia by Eurosport Scoreboard and #6 in the nation by ESPN. The team played the 2009 AAAAA Championship match on May 9th, losing to Collins Hill 1-0 at the Fortress. Last season had it all, thrilling come from behind victories, shootouts and a record 18 match win streak. The team lost 9 players to graduation, but Coach Thomas has 13 players returning from last year’s roster, including 6 starters; 4 seniors, defender Michael Hampl, midfielders Alec Kronitz and Mitchell Williams and goalkeeper Brendan Moore and 2 sophomores, defenders Connor Davis and Ryan Spence. A senior forward, Carlos McCrary, joins the team after 3 years on South Cobb’s varsity. Carlos was the Eagle’s leading scorer and will be a great addition to the team. The 2010 team is #2 in the Eurosport Scoreboard 2010 preseason poll.

     The Peachtree Ridge Lions, a 7AAAAA powerhouse, have both teams at #7 in the Eurosport preseason AAAAA poll. The Girls Varsity finished 2009 with a 15-3 record losing in the first round of the state playoffs. The Boys finished 2009 with a 13-5 record and lost in the second round to the Knights. The Boys were ranked # 14 in Georgia in 2009.