By By Thomas Burton / special to The Star
Oct. 30, 2002
DECATUR Soccer can be a game of bounces, not just inches. East Central Community College found that out against Gulf Coast Community College, the top MACJC South Division team, on Tuesday afternoon.
The tie left Gulf Coast as the top seed out of the South, but cost East Central the No. 2 position. Meridian Community College will advance as the second team from the South.
Gulf Coast will remain with the top seed as both teams wait for a winner from the Northwest-Hines game.
The visiting Bulldogs made the first scoring attempt with Ryan Ceccorallie threatening, but the header by Brent Orr didn't pull through.
The Bulldogs put pressure on the Warriors with back-to-back shots. Orr passed to Kyle Ellis who retrieved his own rebound and tried to connect with Steve Chisholm. Chisholm's shot sailed high as Warrior defender Chris Stevens played solid defense.
ECCC made a move with Kyle Miller and John Theobald trying to get the ball to Seltue Karweaye. Orr made a strong defensive play and the Bulldogs regained possession
Keeper Corey Kemp made huge stops for ECCC. Kyle Ellis on a pass from Joe McKinney couldn't sneak one by, as the play proved to be a confident booster for the Warriors.
Karweaye on the next possession responded with a sliding kick that that found its way in for the score. With just under 24:19 to play, ECCC led 1-0.
The Bulldogs attempted three corner kicks, but two of them sailed high.
Gulf Coast's Phillip Marshall sparked the Bulldogs' biggest scoring threat as he and Ellis made a play down field that opened up a 25-yard kick from Brock Moss that made it into the goal for the tie at 1-1 with just 12:15 left.
ECCC fought off 15 attempts by Gulf Coast to end the last 20 minutes of play to extend the game into overtime.
ECCC got into Bulldog territory with three left but two scoring attempts failed to close out the game, with double-overtime approaching.
Once double-overtime began the Bulldogs had ample opportunity to put the game in the bag. After a miss by Marshall, Nick Moran's kick was blocked by Ditto.
ECCC ends the season with a 9-6-3 record overall and a division record of 5-3-2.
Gulf Coast will host the playoffs on Saturday in the number one position as they finish out the regular season at 9-4-3 with a division record of 6-1-1.