Bears down Demons for title No. 5

mbrown@sunmulti.com

Of all the winning streaks enjoyed by local spring sports teams, only one covered an entire season. For the fifth time in a row, the Houston County High Bears are region champions in boys soccer, and Wednesday’s 5-1 victory against Warner Robins High in the 2-AAAAA finals was the 17th win out of 17 matches pre-state tournament in the 2013 campaign.

“Obviously, it’s fantastic,” said head coach Jason Kirk. “We really stress the small things … and the way they’ve battled all year long.”

Warner Robins High earned its way into the finals by upsetting Greenbrier High in Evans Monday 4-1. This match was tied 1-1 early in the second half, but then Matt Monday broke the tie with 24 minutes to play. Monday also had two second-half assists to Nils Bremer, and goalkeeper Cody Dees saved six Greenbrier shots.

“Warner Robins played better than we’d seen from anybody else,” said Kirk about the effort the Demons gave Wednesday. “The score wasn’t indicative of how the game went.

“Truth be told, I didn’t want to see them again. It’s hard to beat a team three times in the same year. We’re excited that they are doing so well even though they are our crosstown rivals. But it is definitely sweet to beat them again.”

For Houston County, Steven Moore had two goals. The other three were spread out among two college signees, Andrew Weber and Drew Behrman, and Jonathan Scruggs.

The two goals from Moore were the result of plays that began all the way on the Warner Robins attacking end.

On the first one, Kirk said Warner Robins played a long ball into their end, but the Bear defense stayed composed and regained control. Braden Anderson sent a “gorgeous” through ball ahead to Moore onside to set up a one-on-one charge.

“Unlike the rest of them, he actually put it in the back of the net,” said Kirk.

Houston’s freshman goalkeeper, Adam Myers, played the entire match as his back-up, Bryce Dawson, was sitting out with a concussion.

“He played a fantastic game,” said Kirk, who went on to describe the other goal by Moore that began with work from Myers. “He came out big and strong, got the ball and immediately punted to Weber, who flicked it to Steven.”

While the five goals would suggest a bad night for Dees, the Warner Robins keeper came through on several other occasions, even as he was challenged in the first two minutes of play. He was on the ground stopping one shot, and then Colin Little hit the top bar off a feed from Weber.

It was Weber who, at 34:43, scored the first goal after Dylan Krimmer’s lead in pass towards Everick Little.

Myers’ first action would follow soon thereafter as a few whistles were going against the host Bears. Tyler Swain and Parker Shaw had free kicks stopped by Myers.

Moore’s speed down the sideline earned Houston a corner kick at 28:35. Dees caught the ball, and then he saw Weber missed the mark twice a couple of minutes later. Myers had his eyes set to catch a long lead in from Jonathan Richmond at 24:32.

Dees saved Moore’s bicycle kick in the box (22:30), and Nathan Peters had to play keeper against Moore when a clearing kick bounced hard off of Moore (21:30). Peters, along with Richmond and Conner Labarge, played well to disrupt several of Houston’s 50-50 claims.

The shots kept on coming towards Dees, who had a one-handed save at the 19-minute mark. This too was from a clear blocked by Moore. Peters backed up his keeper on a push by Weber eight minutes later, and Monday was able to get possession for a break that gave Warner Robins its first corner kick.

Moore’s goal from the Anderson lead came at 9:57 of the first half. Moore worked his way past two defenders to get his shot at the net. At 9:08, Moore took a header I the box saved after Weber split the defense for a crossing pass.

Will Pospisil joined Scruggs and Anderson as standouts for the Bear defense for the remainder of the half. The best chance for the Demons came on Richmond’s free kick right to Myers at 5:30.

Three minutes into a wild second half, Dees and Peters worked together to stop a serious dribbling attack from Little. As Warner Robins cleared the corner kick, Monday got a shot on the run slap saved by Myers.

It was at 35:27 that Moore notched his second goal for 3-0 Bears.

Still in the first 10 minutes, Shaw and Swain had a pair of attempts miss the mark. Little was also denied on the run at 22:40 With half moving under the 20-minute mark, Warner Robins had a pair of corner kicks. Brandon Hagopian took advantage with a header that went in at 18:21.

With the Demon confidence building, the Bear defense had to answer, and Krimmer did so with a remarkable sequence in the box.

It was at 11:12 that the Bears got the goal back on a free kick from Pospisil.

“He drilled a beautiful ball,” said Kirk. “(Scruggs) redirected it with his head. We worked on free kicks all (Tuesday), so it was good to get one.”

Pospisil, a left-footed player, was actually in a group of four that surrounded the ball and simply unleashed his assist. He later, at 10:16, defended a charge by Monday, and Myers caught the ensuing corner kick.

Dees had other saves against Moore, Weber and Little. At 3:20, Behrman scored off a corner.

The Bears are matched up with Bradwell Institute in the first round on Tuesday at home.

“We know there’s a curse in the middle Georgia area where they haven’t gotten to the final four (in boys soccer),” said Kirk. “Hopefully we’ll break that streak and go further.”

“It’s awesome to be on such a great soccer team,” said Krimmer. “I want to go to the (state finals), and I’m going to try my hardest. I know my team will try its hardest as well.”

“It’s always an emotional game (with Warner Robins). It gets pretty intense,” said Behrman. “We knew we had to come out with composure and make sure we finished it off.”

“We have to keep playing well,” said Will Cowart. “We’re pretty unified as a team. We definitely have the talent. We score a lot of goals, but defenders like to get zeroes.”

“This is just the beginning. We want to take it farther,” said Little. “When we’re focused, we’re a pretty good team … good chemistry.”

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