The War Eagles outshot the Bulldogs 35-13, had 12 corner kicks to just five for the Bulldogs, and spent nearly three-fourths of the second half on the Mary Persons side of the field. But where it counted most, the Bulldogs came away with a 2-1 win to knock the War Eagles out of the playoffs.
The deciding goal came with just 13 minutes left when the Bulldogs' Jacob Smith outraced a Chestatee defender down the middle of the field on a high bouncing goalkick and then slid a low shot under diving keeper Michael Herrin. Smith's shot came just one minute after Chestatee had peppered Mary Persons keeper Dakota Williams with three shots within 5-yards off a corner.
"We feel like we won this game," Chestatee coach Mike Herrin said. "We got a ton of good looks at the goal but we just couldn't get anything in the net. It's a little frustrating but that's the way the ball bounces sometimes. They got the one real break in the second half. Our guy slipped just a little but it was enough to give him an opening.
"We had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to score. We executed really well offensively. It was just one of those games where we were missing just by a little."
Chestatee had one shot hit the crossbar and nearly a dozen miss the net by less than the width of the ball on shots within 15 yards. Williams made three outstanding saves on point-blank shots to keep the Bulldogs alive.
You could see the frustration on Herrin's face afterwards, especially when it comes to the playoffs. Chestatee has advanced to the second round just twice in school history but has yet to get to that elusive Elite 8.
"It is (frustrating) a little (not to make it to the third round) but I am proud of these guys and the effort they gave every game," Herrin said. "
The first half was an offensive showcase for both teams as they both applied pressure to the defenses. The War Eagles got the first of five first half corners in the first two minutes that resulted in Marco Rebollar just missing on an 18-yard blast.
Herrin got tested early as the Bulldogs got two point-blank range shots in the first four minutes that Herrin was able to corral. Williams deflected a looping shot by Christian Felix at the crossbar eight minutes into the game. But the War Eagles got the first big break two minutes later as Rebollar was dragged down inside the box and then connected on a the resulting penalty kick for a 1-0 lead.
It stayed that way as Williams and Herrin each denied two shots inside the box over the next five minutes. But the Bulldogs tied the game with 24:27 left in the first half when defenseman Jacob Haygood slammed home a rebound during a wild scramble off a direct kick.
Chestatee had several solid scoring chances to break the tie but could not convert on three corners in the final three minutes before halftime.
Chestatee dictated most of the action in the first 20 minutes of the second half. The War Eagles had three more corners and half-a-dozen shots within 18 yards but could not convert. Jeremy Gross had a wide-open shot with 24:30 left in the game after a nice cross from Edgar Guerrero but his blast hit the crossbar and bounced wide of the goal. Guerrero had a straight-on look five minutes later but his shot sailed wide right.
Rebollar, who led Chestatee in goals scored this season, had several drives into the box in the second half but was met with fierce resistance each time. Three Bulldog defenders would surround him every time he got into the box.
"They obviously scouted him well," Herrin said. "They took away his ability to go left where he is the most dangerous. He had some good looks but they made it tough on him."
Chestatee finished the season 12-8-1. Mary Persons (13-6-1) will move on to play Woodward Academy on Friday in the quarterfinals.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/5/248402