fromfayobserver.com

SOUTHERN PINES — For the first 23 minutes, Jack Britt stood toe to toe with Pinecrest in a Mid-Southeastern 4A girls’ soccer clash.

But as has often been the case in recent seasons, the Lady Patriots eventually delivered the knockout blow with a 3-0 win.

The victory all but assures Pinecrest (13-3, 11-0) of a conference title.

“I think our goal the whole season has been what we can add to last year,” Pinecrest coach Todd Abbey said. “With a new team and a new face of the team, they wanted to prove that they didn’t need the key players that they had last year. They play more as a team now, and they’re ecstatic about that.”

The night turned sour for Jack Britt (12-6-1, 10-2) in the 24th minute when Buccaneer keeper Bailey Mathias made a great save on a shot from Antonia Myers. After the sprawling save, she collided with a Patriot player, injuring her right arm and forcing her out of the contest.

Defender Jacklyn Carrillo played the next two minutes in goal before JV keeper Sloan Shank, summoned off the bus as it was leaving the parking lot, took over in goal.

“It changed the game’s momentum,” Jack Britt coach Nat Bunphithak said. “I think some of my girls were wondering what was going on with Bailey. They were worried and their minds weren’t focused right away and it’s hard for someone to jump right in after playing a full game and try to play another one.”

The Patriots, eager to test the new net minder, pushed forward and forced a corner kick in the 29th minute.

Rachel Dokich served in a ball from the corner that sailed over Shank’s outstretched arms and on to the head of Keegan Cary, who slammed it home for a 1-0 Pinecrest lead.

Three minutes later, another Pinecrest corner led to another goal as another Dokich service bounded near the penalty spot. The Bucs, in an effort to clear the ball, put the ball in their own net, making it 2-0.

It was still a two-goal game in the 75th minute when the Patriots added their third goal.

Lyndsey Anderson fired a shot from the edge of the box that smacked off the crossbar. Ally Parziale settled under it and headed the rebound past Shank and into the bottom left corner for the goal.

“We gave up two goals before we could get organized again,” Bunphithak said. “But once we got organized, we were right back in the game. You have to credit their defense They controlled us well.”

Sarah Dejak made five saves en route to the shutout for Pinecrest while three Buccaneer keepers combined to make 11 saves on the night.