Clinton notches marathon victory
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
June 23, 2003
It took a full 70 minutes of regulation play and two 10 minute overtime sessions to put a gold medal around a team's neck in the under-14 boys' division at the soccer event at the State Games of Mississippi.
Pearl's David Slowick finally grabbed the gold medal for his team by sliding a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal seven minutes into the second overtime to defeat Clinton 3-2 Sunday at the Northeast Park Soccer Complex.
Clinton battled back from two one-goal deficits in regulation to force the additional periods.
Hunter Atwood forced overtime with eight minutes remaining in the second half tying the game at two.
The Clinton forward buried a goal from the right side of the net after receiving a perfect crossing pass from a deadball kick from about 25 yards out.
Atwood's goal erased Pearl's 2-1 lead that it held since the 12-minute mark of the final half.
Pearl forward Kyle Thompson gave his team the lead early in the second half with a goal into the right corner of the net, after he powered his way through the left-hand side of the goal box.
Clinton got rid of Pearl's other lead with two minutes left in the opening half.
Kyle Quick rocketed a free shot at Pearl's goaltender, who was able to deflect the initial blast from about 35 yards out. But Ryan Weaver was able to corral the rebound and score to tie the game at one.
Brian Jones scored the first goal of the game for Pearl at the opening half's 10-minute mark. He blasted a shot from the top of the goal box that glazed off the tips of Clinton's goaltender and into the net.
Meridian Youth Soccer Organization Forces captured the bronze medal defeating Singing River Soccer Club 4-2.
Laurel Jones Co. girls 2
Clinton 1
Martha Morgan scored goals in the first and second half to lift Laurel Jones County Soccer Association (LJCSA) to victory in the U14 girls' gold medal game against the Clinton Kamikaze Flamingos.
The LJCSA forward tallied the team's first goal a few minutes into the opening half for a quick 1-0 lead.
Morgan struck again in the second half scoring a break-away goal into the left corner of the net for the win.
Clinton's Caroline Sanders tied the game at one scoring on a penalty kick with less than a minute remaining in the first half.
