McGill 5-3-5

Round One in 6A Playoffs v. McGill on 5/3/5 Page 1 Page 2

Pirates Over McGill in KFTM

Sophomore Keeper Steven Pearson Awesome in Shootout!

Fairhope Boys Varsity defeated the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets in a classic battle Tuesday night in the first round of the 6A Boys Soccer Playoffs. McGill went up 1-0 early on a free kick that squeezed into the left side of the net. Fairhope tied it up in the 19th minute on a scramble in front of the McGill goal that lead to a Ryan Strachan header for a goal off of a Bryan Keyser deflection.

For the next 51 minutes it was back and forth with McGill controlling much of the play and several shots on goal.

Midway through the second half, McGill's best opportunity came on hard shot to the left side of the goal punched away inches from the post by diving Pirate keeper Steven Pearson. This was just a taste of Pearson's A game.

After 80 minutes of regulation tied 1-1 and two 5-minute overtimes with no score, the game went to Kicks From The Mark (KFTM). McGill scored first, then Fairhope's Dan Keyser planted one in the right side of the net to tie the game again. Pearson slaps away McGill's second attempt. Brian Keyser buries his try in the corner to give Fairhope the advantage. McGill's third attempt is good tying again 2-2. Strachan crosses up the Jacket keeper and puts FHS up one. McGill's fourth attempt is good and tied again 3-3. With cow bells clanging and girls screaming, Junior Ben Kuyk taps one in left and Pirates are up 4-3. The crowd falls silent as McGill's last hope steps up to the mark. A small pin could be heard dropping in the background (ting). Pearson bounces on the balls of his feet, and as the ball is kicked he nimbly jabs to his left, and almost nonchalantly batts it away for the save. Pirates win 2-1 with one lonely shooter remaining. More at News. See video here.