Northview Titans Varsity Boys Game Summary
Northview v. Central Gwinnett- 1-4
February 22nd
Conditions: 67 degrees at game time 7:50pm; light cloud cover
The Central Gwinnett Black Knights moved fast and quickly, outpacing the Titans and maintaining possession in the Titan side of the field for a good part of the first half. The game was fast paced in both directions, but the Knights scored three times, at 8, 30 and 37 minutes, using their speed both to collect free balls and to pass into open space. BJ Luksis made several saves in the half, including one on a free kick from just outside the penalty area and a quick rebound shot from 25 yards out.
The Titans had a number of scoring opportunities, including a short breakaway by Andrew Cameron at 10 minutes, but the Knights' keeper made the save. Northview found itself offside on two other good passing moves down into the penalty area. Just before the half, Cameron got off another hard shot from 10 yards, but the Knights' defense blocked it out for a corner. The Knights picked up a yellow just before the half, having tied up Jeff Scannella once too often to go without notice by the referee. Both teams had several corner kicks in the first half that were driven out by defensive efforts.
The second half opened with each team driving fast down the field on successive possessions. Defensively for the Titans, Josh Carter and Brian Colyer teamed up, as they did many times during the contest, to thwart the threatening speed of Central Gwinnett. On offense, Carter drove into the corners a number of times, and Scannella moved balls well in the center, but the Titans couldn't string together their passes to create shooting opportunities.
At 15 minutes in the second half, Jeremy Stille had to leave the game after a violent punch by an opponent drew blood; the offending Knight was sent off with the red card. Alex Alonso received a yellow at the same time, after much discussion between referees and coaches.
At 21 minutes, after a free kick by Carter from just outside the penalty area, Northview got a corner kick after Central Gwinnett failed to clear. Another shot by the Titans was stopped, and the rebound out to 25 yards on the right side was collected by Andrew Stoniecki, who blasted it in high and left for the Titans' lone goal of the night.
Luksis made more saves on close shots by the Black Knights, and swept up balls before attackers could run down passes into the penalty area as the half wore on. At the 33rd minute the Titans had to clear for a corner kick on a brief scramble near the end line, and the Knights capitalized with a well placed header bounced down and in for their fourth score.
Late in the contest, Stephen Gulia headed out a crossing pass that was on line for an open attacker at 15 yards, stopping another potential score. The Titans pressed hard offensively the last several minutes, but couldn't get clean shots for the remainder of the match.
