Eagles outlast Bearcats for 3A Lower State title
Class 3A Boys Soccer Lower State Championship • May 12, 2008

Photos by David Martin B- C keeper Chris Duzan leaps high to make the save.

After two 40 minute halves, two ten minute overtimes and two five minute overtimes of scoreless soccer, Chapin converted four penalty kicks to Brookland- Cayce's three to defeat the Bearcats in the Lower State finals at Woolbright Field on May 13. Keeper Greg DeMare saved B- C's final shot and David Stone fired the winning goal on the last Eagle attempt to send Chapin to the 3A state finals on May 17.

Each team spent the first 30 or so minutes feeling one another out without much by way of shots on goal. The Bearcats, while trying to push forward offensively, were thwarted by Chapin's strong backline. The Eagles, meanwhile, used persistent possession to create pressure early in the game with Stone providing the strength of the attack. Late in the half, B- C's Jose Guzman got off the best shot of the game with a screaming shot from just outside the box. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, after clearing the outstretched hands of DeMare in goal, the ball caromed off the crossbar, falling harmlessly on the field instead of dramatically in the back of the net.

Chapin goalkeeper Greg DeMare knocks the ball from B- C's Robby Setzler.

The Bearcats used the first ten minutes of the second half as a chance to assert themselves offensively. Using a deceptive attack, the team sat its midfielders back as additional defense but would send long passes up field to spring forwards Eduardo Adam and Guzman toward the goal. Taylor Lewis and Robby Setzler each had good shots on goal saved by DeMare. Chapin had several strong chances on goal throughout the second half with B- C keeper Chris Duzan sacrificing his body on several occasions to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.

Late in the half, Ben Bosco sent two quality shots toward Duzan but one sailed just left of goal and the second was a ground shot saved by the Bearcats' sophomore keeper.

Chapin dominated possession of the first overtime period taking five serious shots at goal. A Duzan save of a free kick with only a minute to play kept the game scoreless heading into the second overtime.

The Eagles again controlled possession in the second extra period, trying to find higher percentage looks at the goal. Duzan again saved his team with a great save on a Dylan Matthiessen break away with just over a minute to play in the second ten minute long overtime.

The third and fourth extra periods passed without major incident as each team was clearly tired after over 100 minutes played.

The tension reached a crescendo as the whistle blew marking the end of the fourth and final overtime, announcing the start of penalty kicks.

The Bearcats converted on their first three penalty kicks but Chapin slipped on its third try with keeper DeMare sending his shot high over the crossbar. B- C's Robby Setzler tricked DeMare on his fourth attempt but slid the ball just inches too far to the left, canceling out DeMare's previous miss. After Eagle midfielder David Slaughter connected on his fourth attempt, the Chapin keeper made a diving save to his left to deny B- C's Brandon Boyd and set up Stone with a chance to send the Eagles to the state finals for the first time since 2003. Stone calmly placed the ball out of the reach of a diving Duzan setting off complete jubilation for the home team and despair for the visitors.

The Eagles will face Riverside at USC's Stone Field Saturday, May 17 at 4:30 pm for the class 3A state championship. Riverside won it all in 2006 and 2001. Upstate teams have won the last seven 3A titles.