Peachtree Ridge Lions Soccer

On Monday night, the Milton Eagles soared into Lion Stadium flying high as a result of their number 10 pre-season state ranking.  However, in a game that saw both teams playing very tight defensively, the Peachtree Ridge Lions and Coach Ryan Sutton came away with the 1-0 non-region victory, the first of Coach Sutton's varsity career at Peachtree Ridge.  The Varsity Lions are now 1-0-1 on the young season.

While it was the strong Eagle midfield that worried the Lions going into the game, it was the Lion midfield’s high pressure style that kept the Eagles off balance most of the night.  The Lions put early pressure on the Eagles, controlling play for the first 8 minutes of the match, but the Lion attack could not muster a shot.   

The Eagles began to put pressure on the Lions mid-way through the first half, but Lion goalkeeper Mitch Kupstas and the Lion defense stood firm.  JT Taplin, Derek Bryant and Grayson Guldenschuh came up big to stall the Eagle attack. 

As the half was dominated by defensive play, neither team found much opportunity to exploit any weaknesses.  On the rare occasion that the Eagles found a seam to sneak through the Lion defense with room to run, they were immediately challenged by an aggressive Kupstas.  Late in the first half, Kupstas made the defensive play of the evening as he stopped a point blank shot at the near post resulting from a scramble in the box off a Milton corner kick. 

PRHS Keeper Mitch Kupstas making one of several brilliant saves on the night

After the intermission, both teams began to up the pressure and take some chances.  With 7 minutes to go in the contest, JT Taplin played a brilliant long pass to Chris Cook who was posted up against an Eagle defense that had been marking tightly all night.   Cook dropped the ball to Jeremy Rector, who “threaded the needle” back through three Eagle defenders to find Cook at about the 12 yard mark.  Cook was poised and made the most of his chance, beating the Eagle keeper low to his right side for the only goal of the match and the 1-0 victory.  Congratulations to the Lions and Coach Sutton!  Video highlights.

Next up the Junior Varsity Lions travel to Milton on Tuesday for non-region matches, with the girls playing at 5:55pm and the boys playing at 7:30pm.  You can find directions to Milton High School here.

The Varsity teams resume play at home this Friday night against the South Gwinnett Comets. The Varsity girls kick off at 5:45pm, while the boys take the field at 7:45pm.

Hope to see you there!