Vikings take title, Cardinals fight tough
March 28, 2008 • Boys Soccer
By George Kaupp

Cardinal Newman's Nick O'Rourke battles Spring Valley's Sean Flynn for the header as Kyle Gawinski(CN), Alex Kubas (CN) and Thomas Wollersheium (SV) look on.

Spring Valley and Cardinal Newman entered their match in the Palmetto Cup on Friday, March 28, with identical 2- 0 records in Group C. Each team knew a win would put them in the semifinals the next morning, and a loss would relegate them to a consolation game. The Vikings started sharper than the Cardinals, and then they withstood a Cardinal rally in the second half to win 4- 3.

Spring Valley controlled the ball most of the first half, outshooting the Cardinals 12- 2 and at times seeming to toy with the Cardinals by just passing the ball back and forth between team members. The Cardinals played tentative during the half, more content to play defense than to attack. The Vikings, however, were more than ready to attack, and in the eighth minute, senior Thomas Wollersheium converted a header off a corner kick from Justin Martin to put Spring Valley ahead 1- 0. Five minutes later, Wollersheium crossed a pass in front of Cardinal keeper Timmy Cunningham that was put into the net by sophomore Antoine Parris for a 2- 0 lead.

Photos by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman goalkeeper Timmy Cunningham goes high for the save as Johnie Hodge and Davis Lemon (4) look on.

The Cardinals seemed to wake up a little after that, with sophomore Nick O'Rourke redirecting a shot by Michael Maracich past keeper Will Frierson in the 31st minute to put Cardinal Newman on the scoreboard. But the Vikings answered in the 38th minute with a goal by senior Zack Houghton off a corner by Parris. Spring Valley went into the half up 3- 1.

Whatever coach Will Eudy said at halftime incited the passion in the Cardinals. Within the first minute of the second half, junior Michael Beaudoin put a deflection of a Thomas Winstead shot past Frierson to pull Cardinal Newman within one. The Vikings answered once again with a goal by senior Sean Flynn on a shot from 15 yards in the 55th minute. Less than a minute later, the Cardinals pulled back within one when O'Rourke headed in a throw-in from Winstead. But the Vikings would not let the Cardinals get the tying goal. Frierson and his defense stymied the Cardinal offense, and Flynn and Wollersheium kept the pressure on the Cardinal defense just enough to allow time to run out.

Cardinal Newman's Gabe Roldan goes for the header as Spring Valley's Taylor Wells defends.

The Vikings defeated Eastside in a semi- final match Saturday morning, then defeated 2A Bishop England 4- 1 for their second Palmetto Cup title. The Vikings improve to 10- 0 and are ranked No. 1 in South Carolina. The Cardinals lost to Farrugut (TN) in their final game of the tournament and fall to 7- 4.