Bearcats rally over Dreher
Boys Soccer • May 1, 2008
By Michael Orr

Photo by Morgen Orr B- C's Pedro Vargas and Dreher's Freeman Myrick battle over a header.

The Brookland- Cayce Bearcats scored twice in a nine- minute span early in the second half to come from behind and defeat Dreher 2- 1 at The Cage on May 1. Taylor Nelson's controversial goal in the 56th minute completed the Bearcats' regular season with a record of 16- 5- 1 and a AAA state ranking of fifth.

Dreher controlled most of the first half possessions and took several clear shots on goal. The B- C defense, led by Greg Stone, Brodie Wall and Brandon Boyd, curtailed the Blue Devils' offense while keeper Chris Duzan saved four shots in the game's first 20 minutes. Justin Parker led the Dreher offense in the early minutes just missing on two headers and having a point- blank shot saved by Duzan. Dreher finally converted a scoring opportunity at the 30 minute mark as Alex Hill's perfectly placed free kick found the head of Daniel Kellogg and was placed past B- C's Duzan. The goal was officially ruled a goal as it was deflected off a Bearcat defender.

The game could have been lost to B- C in the final ten minutes of the half as Dreher's Adam Dillihay and Byron Quinatoa each had shots come dangerously close to adding to the Blue Devils' tally. But the shots would not find the net and Brookland- Cayce escaped the first half trailing only 1- 0.

The Bearcats took the offensive momentum in the second half, dominating possession and attacking the Dreher defense. In the 48th minute, Dreher keeper John Beck saved B- C senior Josh Davis' shot. As Beck fell to the ground, the ball slipped through his hands and into the net for B- C's first goal of the game. The goal energized the already strong Bearcat offense and led to even more offensive pressure from the B- C. In the 56h minute, a diving Beck knocked down Taylor Nelson's shot. The ball squirted free for a brief moment before being corralled against the post, but the referee blew the whistle and credited the Bearcats with their second goal. The B- C fans erupted while the despondent Dreher fans booed.

For the remainder of the game, the B- C defense anticipated the movements and passes of Dreher star midfielder Quinatoa. With his exemplary passing skills largely neutralized, the Blue Devils struggled to find open shots against the tough Bearcat defense.

With just ten minutes to play, Robert Switzer slipped through the B- C backline and faced a short shot in the box to even the score, but Duzan made a spectacular save to preserve the fragile lead.

In the final minutes of the game, Brookland- Cayce stunted Dreher's desperate offensive attacks and held off the Blue Devils for their 16th victory of the season and earned a home game in the Lower State playoffs against Stall on May 6. Dreher will host Seneca in the Upper State playoffs, also on May 6.

Editor's Note:

The Bearcats beat Stall 6- 0 in the first round of the Lower State and play St. James May 8 in the second round.

Dreher beat Seneca 3- 0 in the first round of the Upper State and play Wade Hampton May 8 in the second round.