Northview Titans Varsity Boys Game Summaries
Northview v. North Gwinnett 3-0
March 28th, 2006
The Titans gained another victory and another shutout, in this 3-0 win over the North Gwinnett Bulldogs in the last region contest before spring break. Goals were scored by Andrew Cameron, Brandon McCollum, and Jeff Scannella in a game with few shots on goal for either team, even though the opportunities presented for both squads.
In the early minutes, the Titans let the Bulldogs control the ball. Successive attacks had to be shut down by Sam Bevan slide tackles and diving headers to clear, allowing North Gwinnett throw-ins deep in the Titan half. The only Northview drive, at the 6th minute, ended in a midfield offside call. The Bulldogs took shots both high and wide as they maneuvered in to twenty five yards, and the Titans created a corner kick chance at 9 minutes on a free kick by Bevan from midfield. Jeremy Stille shot off a Bulldog defender from close range.
The first test for Titan keeper Will Whorton occurred in the 14th minute in a 3 on 2 attack, with a Bulldog dribbling across the top of the penalty area, and past the defense. Whorton came out to force the angle, and the North Gwinnett shot missed wide right. Moments later, after a Sayeed Mehrjerdian foul at midfield, Whorton rushed out to ten yards to catch the incoming free kick. The Bulldogs returned the favor two minutes later, and Stephen Gulia’s midfield free kick ranged in for Brandon McCollum, whose header at 5 yards went wide left.
The Titans soon showed that extra effort pays off well, first on defense, then offense. Following an indirect free kick call at 35 yards, Jeremy Stille shut down the free kick with a full body block at the required ten yards distance. The Titans came upfield, and Andrew Cameron took a pass at midfield in a one on one attack, skillfully passed to himself twice with headers as he rushed forward, then capped it with a shot at ten yards to the left that beat the keeper and gave the Titans their first GOAL.
After a foul by the Titans 30 yards from their own goal, the avoided a scare as the Bulldog shot from the free kick got past the two-man wall and all the way wide right of the goal. The Titans and Bulldogs see-sawed back and forth for the remainder of the first half, with Titan shots by McCollum and Scannella, and on defense, saves by Whorton on a low shot from 16 yards, and a fine catch up high on a shot from 30 yards away. The Titans came awfully close on a free kick from AJ Johnson for Cameron Pratt, but the Bulldog keeper came off his line to shut that one down.
At 44 minutes, a foul to Andrew Cameron 30 yards out on the left, let Bevan drive the free kick to the far post to a charging McCollum, whose header down found its mark, giving Northview its second GOAL. The Titans were called for several fouls in a brief period well into the second half, also earning a double dose of yellow cards, but no damage came from the events.
At 61 minutes, Northview gathered momentum and attacked repeatedly. Andrew Stoniecki dribbled deep into the left corner and turned in for a crossing pass, and got the ball out to Scannella, and then Mehrjerdian was flagged for an offside infraction. The Titans earned a corner kick, but couldn’t turn it into a shot. Mario Perazza made a clear break on the next attack, and the Bulldog keeper came way out to the edge of the penalty area, and blocked Perazza’s shot. North Gwinnett’s offense could not penetrate late in the game, but the Titans weren’t finished with their work. Northview kept pushing in, and at 74 minutes, Scannella was fouled at 30 yards out. Jeff’s quick restart found Perazza ready for the shot, but it was blocked out for a throw in near the corner. And as AJ Johnson drove in fast at the 77th minute, he was tripped inside the penalty area in desperation. After a long wait, AJ was up and on his feet. Then Jeff Scannella eyed his mark on the ensuing penalty kick, and drove home the Titans’ third and final GOAL of the match.
