Pearl is redeemed on pitch

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
June 21, 2004
The Pearl Green outlasted the Clinton Rebels in the under-14 boys' gold-medal game in the youth soccer tournament of the State Games of Mississippi on Sunday.
The Green tallied the medal game's lone goal in the fifth minute of the second overtime to claim a 1-0 victory at the Northeast Soccer Complex. The Rebels took home the silver medal.
Pearl and Clinton came through the same bracket of the under-14 tournament, with Clinton getting the best of Pearl 3-0 on Saturday in pool play.
Jack Benton scored the game winning goal for Pearl in the second overtime.
The Green midfielder let loose a shot from about 30 yards in front of the Rebels' net. The ball grazed over the top of the Clinton goalkeeper's fingers into the net for the victory.
The teams closed regulation in a scoreless tie, after Clinton's goalkeeper made 15 saves in regulation.
Clinton had a scary moment four minutes into the first overtime.
Rebels left winger Parker Pierce fell over a Green defender, after the opposing player slide tackled Parker Pierce along the sideline to knock the ball away.
Parker Pierce came down hard on his side, and he remained on the ground after the collision. An ambulance came to the field to take the young player.
In the bronze medal game, the East Central Soccer Club United tallied a 2-0 win over the Biloxi Soccer Organization All Stars.
Under-14 Girls
One goal decided the winner of the under-14 girls' gold medal.
The Madison Strikers tallied a 3-2 win over the ECSC Fusion in the medal game to take home the gold. The Fusion won the silver medal.
The Strikers had not given up a goal in their first three games of the tournament, shutting two teams out on Saturday and claiming a 1-0 win over the Clinton Frenzy in a semifinal game on Sunday morning.
In the bronze medal game, the Frenzy picked up a 2-1 win over the Laurel Jones County Soccer Association Futball Club.