Sports
Parkview Soccer Goes Down in Spring Break Showcase
Lady Panthers lose 3-0 to Whitewater as Parkview Boys lose 3-1 in the Lilburn showdown against Providence.
Providence Christian’s boys beat Parkview 3-1 and Parkview’s girls fell 3-0 to Whitewater Friday night in the Spring Break Showcase at Parkview.
The boys game was intense, fast-paced and physical. The referee was letting the boys use every part of their bodies to push and pull their way for most of the game.
The game featured Gwinnett Soccer Association club teammates on opposite teams. Parkview’s Jose Diaz, Zachary Kammer and Justus King play alongside Providence’s Will Lowndes, Taylor Henry, Ryan Mazzone, Caleb McQuaig and Robby Lyew for the GSA ‘94 Phoenix White. Matt McGlamery and keeper Evan Flowers of Providence play for the GSA ‘94 Phoenix Red alongside Parkview keeper Diego Casillas.
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The first half was a highly defensive game. Both teams were unable to connect a number of passes as defenders constantly cut the passing lanes.
With 20 minutes to go in the first half McQuaig received a pass over the heads of the defenders and took a shot from the right side of the box. Parkview keeper Jack Falle made a save as he rushed out but the rebound fell to the feet of McQuaig. McQuaig took a quick shot toward the empty net but Parkview defender Diaz saved the Panthers by kicking the ball off the goal line.
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Seven minutes later, Sammy Korgi of Parkview had a clear chance on the right side of the box but his shot ended up in the side netting.
Parkview’s Tommy Lehner collected the goal kick and went down the left side of the field. He crossed to the top of the box to Santiago Gubitosi whose shot curled outside the top right corner of the goal.
The first half was certain to end 0-0 when Parkview caught a break. Korgi sprinted down the right side of the field with Providence defender Lyew on his shoulder. As Korgi got in the box he sprinted past Lyew who lunged for the ball, missed, and clipped Korgi’s feet sending him tumbling down to the ground.
The referee pointed to the spot as captain Pete Charter of Parkview set up to take a penalty kick against Providence keeper Flowers.
Flowers was unable to stop the well-placed penalty kick of Charter's. The half ended with Parkview up 1-0 against its Lilburn rival.
Providence (11-3) evened the scored when Ted Perry made a whipping header into the back of the net off Mazzone’s corner.
The Stars made it 2-1 with 10 minutes left in the game when Lowndes pushed aside Abel Nguyen and scored past Falle.
McQuaig then broke away down the left hand side past Nguyen, then club teammate Kammer, and went one-on-one against Falle.
Falle barely missed the ball and clipped McQuaig’s feet. The referee pointed to the spot and gave a harsh straight red card to Falle. Falle will miss Saturday’s game and then pivotal match against Brookwood next week. The referee’s decision forced a keeper change for Parkview as Casillas hastily got ready to face former club teammate McQuaig.
With the game 2-1 it was the moment that could have swung the momentum for either team. McQuaig lined up for his shot as Casillas prepared. McQuaig shot right, Casillas guessed right and punched the ball away. Casillas landed, and turned to see McQuaig collect the rebound and take a shot into the top of the net. The game was sealed for Providence at 3-1.
“It felt great to score against my club teammates and get the win,” said McQuaig. “It was a really physical game with players from both teams playing 100 percent for 80 minutes.”
Providence keeper Flowers commented on the effort of his team as well. “I was trying to make sure no one gave up. I had to help anchor the team and stay composed,” Flowers said. “It felt nice to get those saves and help my team because we had such few substitutes.”
Providence plays at Centennial Saturday at 3 p.m.
Parkview boys face Grissom (19-1-0), which is coming off its first loss against Centennial starting at 12 p.m.
In the girls game, Whitewater (11-2-1) struck early en route to its win over Parkview (8-7).
Whitewater scored very early and held a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The lead almost went to two when Allison Litchfield of Parkview let the ball bounce between her and keeper Asha Wright as she was holding back Taylor Marks of Whitewater. Marks ran around Litchfield and shot a chip over Wright, who watched the ball sail over her head and hit the top bar. Wright made a diving save backwards to keep Marks from getting the rebound.
In the second half, Mikayla Stewart made a pass to Morgan Lamberth who dribbled past two defenders, moving the ball from her right to left and then back to her right to shoot past Panther keeper Wright.
Wildcats led 2-0 over the Panthers.
Marks again had a close chance when she caused Panther defender Erin Baker to go reeling back with a fake move to the left and then turning right on a dime to take a shot which hit the far right post. Kayla Smith of Whitewater got the rebound and shot into the bottom right corner but Wright managed a nice block.
Parkview’s Alex Ober hustled for a shot on goal. Receiving the ball from Kiki Nelson, Ober raced down the left side. She put the ball through the legs of one defender and then pushed the ball to the right of another defender. Wildcat keeper Christ Strickland came charging out, but Ober sent a powerful shot into the stomach of a diving Strickland.
That was the closest chance Parkview would have to pull the game within reach.
With eight minutes left in the game, Panther keeper Wright made a save from a free kick but Wildcats’ Annika VanGunst was there to put in the rebound and seal the game at 3-0.
The Lady Panthers play Saturday against Norcross (4-8) following the boys’ game.
