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Seniors Step Up; Lions win 5-0

04/18/2011, 5:00am EDT
By Staff

COOK AND KUPSTAS LEAD LIONS TO VICTORY

Video Highlights

On Monday night, Senior’s Chris Cook and Mitch Kupstas put their stamp on the Lion's game with Moutain View and an asterisk on their final regular season home game at Lion Stadium when they led the Lion’s to a 5-0 win over the Bears in the final region game of the year.  The win takes Lion’s record to 14-2 overall, and 5-2 in region play.  The win also secures the Lion’s the second seed from region 7 in this year’s Georgia High School Association state playoffs. 

"Chris and Mitch have both had a great season so far and for them to end their regular season career at Peachtree Ridge in such fine fashion on Senior Night is very cool," stated varsity boys Coach Ryan Sutton.  Cook lead a Lion attack scoring three goals and adding an assist, while Kupstas made key saves on his way to his 5th shut-out of the 2011 campaign.

Cook started the scoring early when he intercepted a pass from a Bear defender and broke toward the net.  He was able to outrun another defender and slide the ball into the lower right hand corner passed a diving Mountain View Keeper.

Cooks shot finds the back of the net for an early 1-0 Lion Lead

The Lion’s second goal of the night would come off an effort started by Kupstas.  His 60-yard clearing punt found the head of Cook, who brilliantly flicked the ball into space in front of Jeremy Rector, whose run anticipated Cook’s effort.  In the clear behind the Bear defense, Rector went to goal and beat the keeper low to his left side for the 2-0 lead at the half.

The second half started as well as the first, when Junior Juan Herrara took a corner-kick that was deflected to the top of the box to Cook.  Cook caught it perfect on the second bounce and one-timed a laser into the back of the net for his second goal of the contest.

At the 55 minute mark, Cook intercepted a pass from a Bear defender and found Rector.  As Cook streaked to goal, a beautifully played ball back to Cook from Rector found him in the clear behind the Lion defense.  This time Cook side-stepped the Bear’s keeper and slid the ball into the back of the net for his 3rd goal of the game.  “Combination play like that is what soccer is all about,” a smiling Coach Sutton said after the game.  “Jeremy and Chris have worked beautifully together all year, and their unselfishness is a big reason why we are where we are.  No other team in the region has beaten Mountain View by more than two goals this season.  It just shows you what this team can do when we play together.”

The Lions final tally of the night would come on a Rector corner-kick.  His effort found Juan Herrera at the back post.  Herrera’s header had “eyes” as it whistled into the small space between the Bear’s keeper and the post, finishing the scoring at 5-0 in favor of the Lions.

Tag(s): Lions News