Published Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:22 PM
Updated Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:26 PM
Fort Dorchester goal keeper Zach Davis has been in on five shutouts this season.
Promising soccer match slated for Friday
The Green Wave boys' soccer team hosts Fort Dorchester at 7 p.m. Friday. Both teams feature college prospects and began their year by winning six of their first seven games. The sole loss for both came at the hands of West Ashley, making the approaching showdown even more important.
"We certainly can't afford any more region losses," Summerville coach Edmund Carson said. "Fort Dorchester is always a tough game for us. Hopefully Friday night we will play like we did tonight."
On Monday, the Wave defeated the top ranked Class AA school in the state, Bishop England. Summerville got goals from Matt Bailey and Daniel Bowers in a 2-0 shutout.
Entering the game, Summerville (7-1) was ranked the No. 5 Class 4-A team in S.C. and No. 9 team for all classifications. The Fort (6-1) was the No. 7 4-A team, but fell to No. 10 with a loss to the Wildcats Friday.
Fort Dorchester opened the season with wins over Berkeley, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Goose Creek, James Island, Stratford and Colleton County. Goal keepers Zach Davis and Jerry Jacobs share four shutouts this season and Davis had a solo shutout in goal against James Island. Davis leads the team in saves with 14 and Jacobs has five.
The Patriots have outscored their opponents 44-4 this year, allowing only three goals to the Wildcats and one to Stratford. Leading the Patriot offense is Randall Eads, who has 18 goals on the season and 10 assists.
Eads and Justin Keys (seven goals and five assists) are a formidable duo at the forward position, but both players are injured and questionable for Friday's game. Keys has battled a back injury since early in the season and Eads injured his leg in the West Ashley game and is least likely of the two to play.
However, there is no cause for Fort fans to panic. The Patriots have talent spread around the field and are a seasoned group. Diego Lizarazo, Bryan Winchester, Chris Cyr, Chris Kifer and Rudi Hellberger have also been productive in both the goals and assists categories.
Before the BE game, Summerville notched wins over Goose Creek, James Island, Stratford, Wando, Beaufort and Battery Creek. Wando was a higher ranked team at the time Summerville defeated the Warriors 3-2.
Wave keeper Ronnie Murray has two shutouts on his own this year and has shared two others with Cauley Dilday. Summerville has outscored its opponents 22-7.
Justin Barlotta (five goals and five assists), Bowers (six goals and two assists) and York Dilday (four goals and three assists) lead the Wave offense, but like the Patriots, Summerville has a number of players capable of doing damage. Other players who could make the difference for Summerville include Bailey, Anthony Palangi and Titus Haney. However, all three are hindered by injuries.