Cardinals land a little short

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By Chris Miller
Jacksonville Daily News

RALEIGH - Jacksonville denied seven first-half corner kicks, but the one second-half set piece for Charlotte Catholic was a different story.

The Cardinals fell 1-0 Sunday in the NCHSAA 3-A soccer championship game as Charlotte Catholic's Sutton Porter scored with 4 minutes, 41 seconds left following a corner kick.

Jacksonville (25-4), the top 3-A seed from the Mideastern 3-A/4-A Conference, was hoping to send the contest at Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium on the campus of N.C. State University into overtime, just like the Cardinals' previous two state final appearances, but Porter broke the scoreless tie by playing near the left post, getting his head on the ball and forcing it into the back of the net.

"I had made the comment that this one will bite us," said Jacksonville coach Dave Miller, who led his program to the title in 2005 and a runner-up finish the next year. "We knew Charlotte Catholic looks to play corner kicks to the far post and knock it in."

That's exactly how the Queen City Conference champion Cougars (24-1-1) scored en route to their seventh state crown and first since moving up from 2-A after the 2004 season.

Junior midfielder Chris Kyryliuk served his left-sided corner kick toward the right post and senior defender Ben Needham headed the ball toward Porter.

"The corner kick came across and one of our players hit it to me," said Porter, who emerged as the title game's Most Valuable Player. "This was the chance we were looking for."

The scoring opportunity proved the Cougars' lone second-half corner kick after they failed to register a shot on goal on seven prior to intermission.

"It was fitting," Porter said. "We had so many in the first half, probably the most we have ever had."

Cardinals senior defender Zach Odum obviously felt differently.

"It was unlucky to end that way," he said.

Jacksonville's 8-2 disadvantage in corner kicks certainly told the story of who controlled possession. Despite both clubs having a handful of chances, Charlotte Catholic registered a 5-2 margin in shots on frame as the Cougars dictated possession by controlling the midfield.

"We managed to take the long ball away from Jacksonville," Charlotte Catholic coach Oscar Del Pino said.

Cardinals senior Klay Davis, who made several plays to deny opportunities, recorded four saves, including one on which he dove and tipped the ball over the net to give the Cougars a corner kick midway through the opening half. Davis, along with seniors Zach Scott, Josh Eustis, junior Michael Uzzell and sophomore Sidney Peterson each contributed in Jacksonville limiting a Charlotte Catholic squad that entered with nearly a five goal per game average.

"Our defense has been good all year and they played like they have all year," Miller said. "We just came up a little short."

Jacksonville had chances following the break, but a shot by Odum inside the 18-yard box sailed over the net with 20:26 remaining and an inside shot by junior Jimmy Johnson with 1:40 left was not strong enough to put the Cougars in danger.

"Charlotte Catholic was marking man on man and they had us figured out," Cardinals senior Daweet Dagnachew said. "We couldn't finish our opportunities well and they capitalized at the end."

But despite the loss, Miller still carried a positive demeanor.

"We had a great season," he said. "Not many teams can say they won 25 games."