Peach State boys win fourth straight in Soccer Classic
For the fourth year in a row, the boys from the Peach State won the day during the annual Stump on Sports Tennessee-Georgia AllStar Soccer Classic at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium this past Thursday.
Though storms shortened each half to approximately 25 minutes each, there was no shortage of thrills and excitement as the two squads, made up of recent graduates from the Chattanooga and northwest Georgia areas, battled in a hardfought and spirited match.
Kevin Villatoro (Sonoraville) knocked in the game first goal in the 13th minute, turning on a ball from some 15 yards out and beating the Tennessee keeper to give Georgia a 1-0 lead.
Heavy rains and lightning forced the teams to the locker room just as the scoreboard clock reached the 26th minute and, following an hour-long delay, game officials made the decision to resume play with the start of the second half at approximately 4:15 p.m. in hopes of getting in a full 40 minutes before the field had to be cleared at 5 p.m. in order to prepare for Chattanooga FC’s league match later that evening.
With threatening skies overhead, the two teams went all out in the second half.
Though Georgia looked to be getting the better of the offensive attacks, Tennessee would pull even in the 49th minute following a corner kick. Georgia keeper Ish Capistran (North Murray) leapt high to punch away Tennessee’s initial shot, but couldn’t recover in time to knock down a follow-up shot by Drew Bolano (Chattanooga Christian), who found the opening.
But Georgia would continue to press the attack and was rewarded seven minutes later. After stealing the ball on the Tennessee side of the field, Enzo Lavecchia (Northwest Whitfield) dribbled down the side of the box, got around a defender and fired a pinpoint shot on a very tough angle past a diving keeper to put his team back in the lead.
Frantic play would continue for the next 10 minutes when the predicted storms from the west finally reached the Scenic City. Lightning was spotted and the game was stopped permanently in the 67th minute.
Capistran, who made several highlightquality saves on the afternoon, including one courageous effort in traffic in front of his own net to prevent a goal, was named the Georgia Player of the Game, while Bolano took home Tennessee Player of the Game honors.
Tennessee still leads the all-time series, 8-5.
In the girls’ match, held earlier in the day, the Georgia AllStars, who had just one substitute on the bench on a hot, muggy afternoon on the stadium turf, wore down under the pressure from the Volunteer State in an 8-0 decision.
Camryn Harris (East Hamilton) scored twice for Tennessee, who now lead the all-time series, 10-2, and who have won three straight. Makena Giles (McMinn County) and Jade Mayo (Walker Valley) each had a goal and an assist, while Paige Simons (home school) and Morgan Hutchinson (McMinn County) each scored once.
Harris was the named the Tennessee Player of the Game, while Cinthya Coronel (Northwest Whitfield), who showed great hustle on both ends of the pitch, was awarded the Georgia Player of the Game plaque.