Bulldogs take win over G-Men

By JED LOCKETT
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

May 20, 2008 10:47 pm

— EAST RIVER — The Tazewell Bulldogs boys soccer team has had an emotional season. It began with the news that teammate T.J. Rasnick had cancer and they struggled to a last-place finish in the Southwest District regular season standings.
But glory was still within their grasp and Tuesday evening they seized the opportunity. Luke Allison scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of the second overtime to give Tazewell a 4-3 win over Graham in the first round of the Southwest District tournament at the East River Soccer Complex.
“For our kids, the best game I’ve seen them play all year,” Tazewell head coach Jeremy Call said as he choked back tears. “They played well the past several games. They practiced hard and got themselves in this position.”
“You hate to see the game end like it did,” said Graham head coach Hank Furry. “I was kind of hoping it was going to go to (penalty kicks). But then again that makes you nervous, too.”
Allison’s winner came on a counter attack and was the Bulldogs’ only shot on goal of the second overtime period. It was a roller that rolled between the legs of Graham goalie Jordan Bryan.
“I turned around and put it on frame,” Allison said. “That happens in soccer. It goes in the goal when you least expect it.”
“Luke, he had some knee problems,” Call said. “He had to get a brace before the game started. He’s tough. He came back in and was in the right place at the right time.”
“I said, ‘Things like that happen,’” Furry told Bryan after the game. “You feel for him but on the same side he’s made so many great saves and great plays throughout the course of the season that he’s bound to have an off night.”
Graham rallied from a 2-0 first-half deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the 50th minute. But Tazewell leveled the score thanks to the second goal by senior Blake Belcher. His free kick from 40 yards out sneaked its way over the outstretched arms of a leaping Bryan, yet under the crossbar.
“I’ve been hitting them good in practice,” Belcher said. “Sometimes you get lucky and that’s what happened.”
“Blake has been one of our leaders this year along with our other senior guys,” Call said. “He’s practiced that and practiced that. He’s been playing since he was little and today was his day.”
It only took 41 seconds for Tazewell to score the game’s first goal — a right-foot volley from Quint Michner from six yards out that resembled a short pop fly over Bryan’s head.
Tazewell culminated their dominance of the early stages of the match in the 11th minute. Belcher hit a free kick from outside the penalty area that went off Bryan’s hands and in. Tazewell led 2-0.
Graham finally began to tilt the field the other direction in the 15th minute and scored in the 28th. Landon Furry was responsible as his curling, dipping shot fooled Tazewell keeper Zach Poskas and flew in past the right upright.
Stephen Holland tied the game in the 47th minute after he received a pass from Madison Whisman and sent a laser in the right side of the net. Two minutes later, Poskas was whistled for pushing down Graham’s Klint Kelley in the box. Hunter O’Neal converted the penalty kick and Graham led 3-2.
But Belcher’s second goal set up overtime and Allison’s strike brought pent-in emotions to the forefront.
“Since the second week of the season, luck has not been on our side since we found out about T.J.,” Call said. “These guys, especially these seniors rallied around each other, have got in their minds that they weren’t going to give up, they weren’t going to quit and fight until the end.”
“We’ve been through so much this season with the loss of our coach and T.J.,” an emotional Belcher said. “It’s just so good to get a win. It’s been such a tough season. I’m just at a loss for words.”
The game was even as chances flowed like soda at a fast-food restaurant. Although highly competitive and exciting, there was also room for sportsmanship to shine through.
In the 75th minute — moments from the end of regulation with the game tied — Landon Furry went down with cramping. Immediately Bulldogs Belcher and Harrison Lutz went down to aid Landon, stretching out his calves so he could get off the field.
“I really hated to see the game end,” Hank Furry said. “It’s probably one of the first times on the soccer field that we’ve seen Graham and Tazewell play each other with camaraderie. There was fellowship going on. Little battles, big battles, big hits, little hits — everything that a fan would want to see in a soccer game. It’s a shame somebody had to lose.”
Graham ends their season with a 7-8-1 record.
“We’ve only got four seniors,” Hank Furry said. “So we return the whole team next year and we’ve got some great kids that sit on the bench this year and got minimum playing time that are going to step into key roles next year.”
Tazewell (6-6-1) will play Marion in the Southwest District tournament at Abingdon High School on Thursday.
“I’m going to enjoy this for this evening and I told everybody back to practice tomorrow,” Call said. “Going into it I just want to give them our best. That’s all we’ve tried all year, play hard and play our best.”
— Contact Jed Lockett
at jlockett@bdtonline.com

At East River Soccer Complex Field 1
Goals — Tazewell: Quint Michner (1), Blake Belcher (11, 66), Luke Allison (90); Graham: Landon Furry (28), Stephen Holland (47), Hunter O’Neal (50 Pen). Assists — Graham: Madison Whisman (47). Halftime — Tazewell 2-1. Regulation — 3-3. Shots (On Goal) — Tazewell 30 (16); Graham 29 (17). Saves — Tazewell 13 (Zach Poskas 13); Graham 11 (Jordan Bryan 11). Corner Kicks — Tazewell 3; Graham 4. Offsides — Tazewell 1; Graham 3. Fouls — Tazewell 9; Graham 7. Cards — None.

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