FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
SGC Soccer Ends Season in Final Four
All good runs will eventually come to an end. For the South Georgia College
soccer program, that end came in the Final Four of the conference playoffs
over the weekend. After defeating Georgia Military College on the SGC campus
Tuesday afternoon, the Lady Tigers moved on to the Final Four but lost to
Georgia Perimeter 1-2 in overtime on Friday. The men received a first-round
bye after finishing second in the conference, but also fell to Georgia
Perimeter 0-2 a day later.
The Lady Tigers played an exciting game against the fourth-ranked team in
the country. "My ladies played their hearts out," said head coach Ken
Kirsch. “We had our chances to win this game but just didn't get the winner
in the net. I am so proud of these young ladies." GPC took an early lead 1-0
in the first three minutes of the game but the Lady Tigers never put their
heads down and didn’t let them score again in regulation. In the second
half, Payton Leffew scored her 18th goal on the season and tied the game off
brilliant pass from Kadie Naumann with 25 minutes remaining. Captain Emily
Ingram said, "We had them on the ropes and I really felt we were going to
win. I hated for my career to end at SGC but it ended with us playing our
best and hardest soccer." With three minutes remaining, Kadie Naumann had a
30 yard shot that stunned the keeper and Tiffany Morris had the ball on her
foot at the penalty area with an open net but just hit it over the bar. "I
thought we had that goal and the win," said assistant coach Larry Butler.
"It just wasn't meant to be."
The Lady Tigers had a few chances in overtime but with 3:22 left, a failed
clearing attempt from Marcillee McBean bounced off an opponent and onto the
foot of a GPC striker in front of the net and ended the game. "This was the
program’s best season in program history," noted Coach Kirsch. "We won 14
games and earned a third seed, not to mention respect throughout this
conference. I am sure we will be back again next season and be even better."
The Lady Tigers end their 2011 campaign with an impressive 14-6 mark and
scored a program-high 75 goals on the season. They have 14- freshmen on this
roster, which will make for an experienced team in 2012.
On Saturday, the men lost 0-2 Georgia Perimeter to end their hopes of a
conference championship. In a game marred by penalties and two questionable
calls by a linesman, the men found themselves once again on the outside
looking in. The Tigers came out in a fury for the first 20 minutes but had a
very questionable offsides call on a heading goal by Jon Clifford which
seemed to shift the momentum in the Jaguars’ favor. "We came out like I
thought, very fast and hard, and that non-goal call really affected us in a
negative manner," said Coach Kirsch. "But in the end, like has happened all
season long, we did not put away our early chances and this ended our year."
GPC took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute of the first half off a deflection
from the side of the net. The game remained tight and both teams exchanged
chances in the second half. Late in the second half, the Tigers thought they
saved a bouncing ball before it went over the line, but the far side
linesman called a goal. That gave the Jaguars a 2-0 lead with 14 minutes
left in the game. "I couldn't see it from where I was," said Coach Butler.
"But both our keeper and defender were adamant that it was not a goal. But
since we didn't score a goal anyway, it is a moot point."
The Tigers earned the second seed this season and hope to return 19 freshmen
from this squad for a strong 2012 campaign. "I am disappointed in the result
Saturday," noted captain Jon Clifford, "but I think we had a great year and
this experience will make us better for next season, particularly with most
of all of us coming back. " The men ended 2011 with a record of 11-7-1.
"This one will hurt for a while," said Kirsch. "However, we will move on. I
am very proud of the men and look forward to getting back on the field in
the spring. We recruited 19 new players this past season and if we can keep
most of them, we will have a dynamite team in 2012."
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is located in Douglas, Ga. The college's environment
gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and
close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer
opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible
to the citizens of its service area.
