Bears wins 2nd round battle with Northgate

mbrown@sunmulti.com

For only the second time during the current run of five consecutive region soccer championships, Houston County High’s boys soccer Bears are in the GHSA ‘Elite 8.’ Jason Kirk’s club, No. 1 in 2-AAAAA, also remained unbeaten for the entire 2013 season by shutting out visiting Northgate High Wednesday 2-0.

Up next is a Saturday matchup (6 p.m.) with Clarke Central High at home. Here, Houston will be looking for its first ever state semifinal appearance.

The Bears endured a physical game against Northgate to win for the 19th time against no losses. The Vikings from Newnan were 9-6 coming into Warner Robins; one of their losses was 7-0 to 20-0 McIntosh in March.

Houston County controlled the 50-50 game for the first 10 minutes of the first half and with it squeezed out its first goal. Andrew Weber and Everick Little were constantly looking to set things up from the outside for the inside goal-scoring prowess of sophomore Steven Moore.

It was Brandon Aguilar claiming a free soccer ball on the attacking side of midfield and close to the bench sideline. He unleashed a long lead that went straight to Moore in the penalty box. As Moore set the ball at his feet, he took the shot for the 1-0 Bears lead at 32:38.

Braden Anderson, like Little and Weber a senior, was another factor in winning the 50-50s. Will Pospisil, like Moore a sophomore, had numerous plays keeping Northgate from establishing an offense. Due to the physical nature of the match, he took a free kick near mid-field, one the Viking keeper had to play off his hands for a Bear corner kick (25:20).

Kirk used Bryce Dawson at goalkeeper for all 80 minutes of play, and Dawson did much to contribute to the shutout. He had two plays around the 23-minute mark, one catching a long throw-in and also drawing a foul. Dawson would play another long throw-in at 20:23.

As the half went under 18 minutes, the Viking defense came through disrupting any Bear shots on a 25-yard free kick and saving a blast from the top of the box by senior Drew Behrman. At 12:10 Moore’s close shot off a touch pass by Weber skipped off the keeper for a corner.

Each team had their share of yellow cards in the final eight minutes. Behrman set up for three free kicks in the 40-yard range, all of which were cleared by Northgate.

Dawson knocked away the Viking 25-yard free kick at 5:02, giving the visitors a throw-in near the corner. The resulting head shot sailed high.

Little and senior Dylan Krimmer produced key defensive moments late in the half, and Dawson stopped a shot attempt at 1:52. Seconds later the Viking keeper did a sliding stop on Moore.

Thanks to a lot of ball work by Jonathan Scruggs, Little scored Houston’s second goal – a 22-yard blast – at 34:21 of the second half.

Dawson protected the shutout at 32:33 getting at a bouncing ball with a host of players charging his way. Northgate had more chances in the half to make those long throw-ins to the box, and Behrman’s defense prevented any shots on one at 26:30. Little and Krimmer stood tall for another defensive stop at 21:13.

As for the Bears, Anderson had two shots near and far saved, and a shot from Behrman off Moore’s pass was caught at 22:30. In the final 11 minutes, shots from Anderson, Moore and Weber were saved with heroic Northgate efforts.

Krimmer and Colin Little were just as heroic breaking up one last Viking charge in the last seven minutes.

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