Clarkdale grabs tough win

By By Carver Rayburn/staff writer
January 25, 2003
Collinsville The game ended with coach Mark Taylor receiving a mini-dunk from a small water cooler on the Bulldog bench. The Bulldogs of Clarkdale beat West Lauderdale 6-5 in sudden death penalty shots to claim rights to the district title.
The game ended at a 1-1 tie after two ten minute minute overtimes which forced penalty shots to determine the outcome. After a 4-4 tie in the first round of five penalty shots, the shoot-out moved to sudden death where Clarkdale was victorious.
Clarkdale (14-1, 8-0) head coach Mark Taylor expressed great approval for his team's accomplishment.
Despite the final outcome of the game, it was the Knights who controlled the ball and the tempo for 80 minutes plus 20 more in overtime. West Lauderdale had 25 totoal shots on goal and played extremely good defense. The Knights did not allow Clarkdale to take a shot in the first half and only allowed eight shots the entire game.
After a halftime score of 0-0, the Bulldogs seemed to wake up in the second half and the Knight defense faltered for one quick strike. After an interception by the Bulldogs, Tyler Swanner found David Prewitt in the middle of the box for a slow dribbler that made its way into the back of the net with 24:34 remaining to play in regulation.
The Knights did not lie down. They came back fighting stronger and recieved a direct kick just outside the goalie's box with 10:53 left to play. Roos McWilliams delivered a lazer shot into the right corner to tie the game at 1-1. The tie lasted through two overtimes.
In penalty kicks, the two teams swapped four goals each with Ross McWilliams, C.J. Fountain, Christoppher Rogers and Zach Chisolm scoring goals for the Kights.