2009 Varsity Game Reports

The Fairhope Pirates Boys Varsity squad gave up just one goal in their entire playoff race on their way to the 2009 Alabama 6A Boys Soccer Championships The boys defeated Mountain Brook high school 1-0 in overtime on Saturday to take the crown. Fairhope senior co-captain Kyle Sherrin (left) was awarded the Tournament MVP plaque for his outstanding tourney play while Nathan Haywood (right), the other co-captain reaped accolades from friends and foes alike. Coach Paul Stroud (center) proudly displays the coveted "blue map" between his two captains.

After 80 scoreless minutes in the championship game, Fairhope claimed the title after only 1:30 had elapsed in the first overtime period. A long-bomb throw-in from senior Riley Garvin found fellow senior Kevin Hickman near post. Hickman flicked the ball on to junior Chad Dolan who used head and shoulder blade to direct the ball into the net for the game winner. Senior Tye Malugani had another outstanding game in goal saving Fairhope's bacon several times during the match. Junior Gibbs Pearson had a big game at left back, fending off Mountain Brook's width-based attack.

The Boys Varsity advanced to the Final Four for a second consecutive year with a decisive 4-0 win over Foley on Tuesday night at Volanta Stadium. The boys came out with early pressure generating a couple of close misses, including one shot over the crossbar and another wide off the post.

In the ninth minute London Bicker started things off collecting a ball on the right side and starting down the wing. Bicker hit Michael Keyser on a run down the left side. Keyser beat the defender to the inside and found Kyle Sherrin standing at the penalty mark and no defenders within 10 yards of him. Sherrin calmly tucked the ball inside the left post for the 1-0 lead.

The Pirates kept up the pressure, and the 13th minute found them deep in the Foley end with a throw-in. Riley Garvin put the ball clear through the box where Keyser switched it back to the right side to a charging Garvin. Garvin headed it to the left post where Sherrin was waiting to head home the 2-0 advantage. The pressure continued to the 28th minute when the Foley keeper collected a through ball intended for Kevin Hickman, took three steps and threw a shoulder into Hickman. That bought a yellow card for the keeper and penalty kick for Fairhope, as the foul was inside the penalty area. Nate Haywood stepped to the mark and drilled the PK for the 3-0 halftime lead.

Ty Malugani was strong in goal, allowing only one good opportunity on a ball that was deflected behind him and Haywood. Gibbs Pearson streaked through to clear that loose ball off the back line and keep the slate clean.

The second half opened with Fairhope focused on controlling the midfield and keeping fresh legs on the field. The score line held until the 20th minute of the 2nd half when Bicker found Hickman on a run down the right side. The Foley defense dashed to the goal box to defend the cross, but Hickman instead turned the ball back above the penalty area where Garvin was closing from the midfield. His right-footed strike from 25 yards found the left post just past the outstretched reach of the Foley keeper. The Pirates then freely substituted from the bench to keep fresh legs on the field and avert any possible break-aways by the Lions.

The 4-0 final score brings the Pirates season record to 23-2-3, and sets up a semi-final matchup with Auburn on Friday at John Hunt Park at 7 PM. The two teams have faced off once this year, a 3-0 Pirate victory in the finals of the Southern Shootout. The winner in the semi-finals will play in the championship game on Saturday at 1PM.

The Pirate boys advanced to the state quarterfinals with a 2-1 playoff win over Murphy on Tuesday night at Volanta Park. The Pirates opened with four shots in the first 90 seconds but were unable to find the back of the net.

Both teams traded opportunities until Fairhope found itself with a free kick about 35 yards out from the Panther goal with 30 seconds remaining in the half. Kyle Sherrin served a ball up to about 6 yards out where Nate Haywood headed it to Chad Dolan. Dolan popped it over a defender to a charging Kevin Hickman, who headed it in for the 1-0 lead at the half.

Murphy answered with a goal 15 minutes into the second half, but Fairhope countered with another attack down the right side resulting in a corner kick for the Pirates. Mike Keyser served to the back post where Riley Garvin drove home the goal for a 2-1 lead less than 3 minutes after the Murphy tally.

Both teams traded opportunities to the final whistle, but neither could break through for another score. The win pits Fairhope against Foley on Saturday in the quarterfinals at Volanta at 7 PM. NOTE: Game has been postponed to Tuesday due to concerns over swine flu.

The Fairhope boys enter the playoffs with a 21-2-3 record following a 2-1 win over St Pauls School on Thursday night at Volanta. Lots of playing time for substitutes while several starters recover from some nagging injuries. The game held scoreless to around the 20th minute when St Pauls was called for a handling foul by the keeper. While being pursued by a Fairhope striker, the Saint defender laid the ball off to the keeper, who collected it with his hands.

On the ensuing indirect free kick, Kyle Sherrin laid off a pass to Nate Haywood. Haywood drilled a shot off the keeper, but Parker Williams was there to collect the rebound and put it away. Shortly before the half, Sherrin collected a nice through ball and beat the keeper with a left footed shot to the far post. St Pauls responded with a pretty free kick from about 25 yards out about 8 minutes into the 2nd half. The game played scoreless the rest of the half, though the Pirates had 3 consecutive opportunities inside the Saint 6 yard box which they couldn’t put away. The Pirates now wait for a visit from Murphy High School on Tuesday at Volanta for the first round of the playoffs. Kickoff on Tuesday is at 7PM.

The Fairhope Pirates collected their fourth consecutive Section 2 championship with a 2-0 win over Daphne on Tuesday night. A slow field and chilly night weren’t enough to slow the Pirates as they came to Daphne stadium with a strong offensive attack. The first half saw two shots off the post and another off the crossbar in the first 25 minutes. Keeper Ty Malugani came off his line in the 15th minute and stuffed a breakaway Daphne’s best opportunity of the night. Fairhope got deep in the Trojan end in the 30th minute and finally struck pay dirt. Chad Dolan took a long throw-in from the left side and found Patrick Marsh in front of the net. Marsh headed the ball toward the left side of the net where Kevin Hickman headed home the 1-0 halftime lead.

The Pirates controlled the long balls over the top by Daphne in the second half, and with the help of two nice saves on long shots by Malugani, kept the shutout intact. In the 36th minute, the Daphne keeper attempted to clear a ball past a charging Kyle Sherrin. Sherrin deflected the ball goalward, and the beaten keeper had to pull him down to prevent the goal. The ensuing red card left Daphne a man down for the balance of the match. With about 15 seconds remaining, Malugani collected his 10th save, and his punt caught a streaking Sherrin who slid the ball into the right side of the Daphne goal for the 2-0 lead with just 9 seconds remaining on the clock. The win puts the Pirates at 18-2-2 overall, 10-1 in Section 2, and Section champs once again. The boys are back in action Wednesday at BCHS at 5 PM. Game photos here.

The Varsity Boys completed a season sweep of Robertsdale with a 3-0 win in Summerdale Friday night. The win puts the Pirates at 9-1 in Section 2, with 2 games to play. Fairhope came out strong from the start, but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. After 5 quality chances inside the Robertsdale area, they finally found pay dirt about halfway through the first half. Kyle Sherrin served a corner kick that found JJ Cherrix at the back side. Cherrix headed it goalward where Spenser Baumhower got a head on it and drove it into the corner of the net. The pressure continued through the next 15 minutes, when Fairhope got a direct kick 40 yards out. Nate Haywood took the kick and drove a line drive into the upper right corner of the Robertsdale goal for the 2-0 lead at the half.

The game continued to become more physical as the 2nd half opened, but the Fairhope attack continued. About 12 minutes in Kevin Hickman dug a ball out of the left corner and centered it to Sherrin waiting about 8 yards out. Sherrin hooked the ball into the lower left corner to close out the scoring for the night. Yellow cards flew through the final 20 minutes, but the Pirate back line never yielded. Ty Malugani and Thomas Kinsey combined in goal for another shutout. The Pirates are now 17-2-2 on the season and head to Daphne on Tuesday for a key Section match.

The Varsity Boys finally dropped the Robertsdale Bears 3-2 on Wednesday night in the game that just wouldn't get played. Originally scheduled for last week, rain postponed the match to Monday night. Following the girls 5 PM match Monday, half of the stadium lights blanked out as a transformer on the east side of the stadium blew. Despite threatening clouds, the match finally was played Wednesday at 7:30.

Robertsdale started out in the attack and pressured the Pirates for the first 5 minutes. Fairhope then settled in and kept steady pressure on the Robertsdale goal until Kyle Sherrin unleased a shot in the 14th minute. The keeper made a nice save, but Kevin Hickman stepped in to drive home the 1-0 lead. Robertsdale responded in the 30th minute with a header off a long throw-in to draw even at 1. The Pirates got back on top in the 36th minute when Mike Keyser broke in on the left wing and drove a cross to Hickman 12 yards out. Hickman drilled it home for the 2-1 halftime lead.

Robertsdale pulled even with another header off a direct kick three minutes into the second half. The Pirates stepped up their pressure, including three hard shots that were turned away by the Bear defense. Finally, with 3 minutes to play, Sherrin served a direct kick from 25 yards out that Chad Dolan finished with a diving header. The Pirates now stand at 16-2-2 overall and 8-1 in Section 2. The rematch will be Friday at 7 PM at the Summerdale School field.

3/21/9 Girls Hold Off Foley 1-0

What began as a potential early end, ended up as a nail-biter for the Lady Pirates in Foley Friday night. Freshman Geena Shelley scored in the first minute of the match and it looked like it might be a blowout. Fairhope controlled the early part of the first half, allowing Foley only one shot on goal - and that was a free kick in the fourteenth minute of the game. But to this reporter, Fairhope seemed to be caught in between two big games - Daphne and McGill - and may have forgotten about Foley. Perhaps the Pirates were thinking of their next port of call and were ready to board ship and sail into Mobile. The Lady Lions nearly bit the Pirates backside.

Junior Alli Griffin was the big shooter for the night, with a total of nine shots. In addition to her goal, Shelley had four other shots. Cristen Crawley had two shots and Danielle Manci and Kyndall Haywood had one each. Goalkeeper Megan Tarr, along with her defensive line of Devan Allegri, Anne Baumhower, Julia Martin and Lanie Doyle, held Foley scoreless for the fourth shutout in a row and 8th of the season.

The Varsity Boys jumped on Spain Park early and cruised to a 3-0 win on Saturday at Majors Field. Kevin Hickman started the scoring just 18 seconds into the game. Isaac Landa fed London Bicker up the right wing, Bicker struck a wall pass to Chad Dolan, and then sent the return to a streaking Hickman. Kevin buried his shot into the left corner for a 1-0 lead. Kyle Sherrin struck with 9 minutes remaining in the half, tapping home a service from Collin Hunt. Hunt make a great run down the right wing, beat the defender to the goal line and turned a cross through the box to find Sherrin. Sherrin rounded out the scoring in the second half taking a service from Mike Keyser down the left wing and running in unopposed. Ty Malugani had two great saves to preserve the shutout. The Pirates are back in action on Tuesday against McGill-Toolen at the Lip.

The Varsity Boys stung the McGill Toolen Yellow Jackets 4-1 in a Section 2 match Friday night. The Pirates came ready to play with an up-tempo pace, and broke through the Jacket defense midway through the first half. Riley Garvin sent a throw-in to Kyle Sherrin that he caught on the first bounce and headed past the charging McGill keeper. Twenty-two minutes in and the Pirates led 1-0. The pressure continued without success until Nate Haywood stepped to a free kick at mid-field with 5:30 remaining in the half. Haywood's service found Chad Dolan in the box. Dolan's header was deflected out, but Bobby Douglass stepped in to drive the goal home. The Pirates added a third goal with Garvin feeding a through ball to Sherrin with 1:20 remaining in the half. Sherrin drove the right wing and beat the keeper to put Fairhope up 3-0 at the half.

The second half was more of the same. With 5 minutes gone, Sherrin was in on the McGill keeper again, but was hauled down from behind. Garvin drove home the ensuing penalty kick for a 4-0 lead. McGill answered with a goal with less than 9 minutes remaining, but Fairhope closed the door on any other opportunities. Ty Malugani recorded two great saves, and the back line of Haywood, Douglass, JJ Cherrix and Isaac Landa were rock solid. The Pirates are now 10-0-2 overall, and 3-0 in Section 2.

3/3/8 Lady Pirates Skin Gators 10-1

Junior Danielle Manci scored her first hat-trick of the season in a 10-0 win over the Gators Tuesday night in Satsuma. The Fairhope Lady Pirates ended their evening early when Freshman Caroline Seibt scored the 10th goal of the match in the 23rd minute of the second half.

Senior Allison Casto began the scoring for the Pirates on a corner kick from Alli Griffin in the 6th minute of the game. The next four shots for the Pirates all ended in the back of the net. Manci scored two goals in quick succession followed by a goal from Griffin and another by Senior Captain Cristen Crawley. At the 14-minute mark of the game the Lady Pirates held a 5-0 lead. Crawley added another goal in the 26th minute. Satsuma didn't get a shot off until the 29th minute with Freshman Goalkeeper Megan Tarr making an easy save. Junior Defender Julia Martin scored her first career goal late in the first half.

Manci led the Fairhope scorers with three goals on four shots. Griffin and Crawley added two each, with Casto, Martin and Seibt adding one each. Seibt and fellow freshman Geena Shelley had one assist with Griffin and Crawley adding two each. The Lady Pirates outshot the Gators 31-3. Tarr maintained the clean sheet for her fourth shutout of the season. The Lady Pirates even their season record at 4-4. They are 2-0 in section matches.

The Varsity Boys improved to 2-0 in Section 2 with a 4-0 win over Satsuma on Tuesday night. Kyle Sherrin opened the scoring early, finishing a London Bicker service. Twenty minutes later a throw in by Riley Garvin found Patrick Marsh on the back post to head in the goal for a 2-0 halftime lead.

The Pirates struck early in the 2nd half as Marsh served a corner kick that a charging JJ Cherrix volleyed home for the 3-0 lead. Sherrin closed out the scoring intercepting a ball on the left wing and driving home a low shot to the far post.

Ty Malugani started in goal for the Pirates after Thomas Kinsey took a laceration to the head during warm-ups. Kinsey came on in relief 15 minutes in and recorded the shutout in goal. Kinsey leads the team in head wounds for the year, followed by Bobby Douglass, who sat out recovering from a split forehead received Friday night. Ian Dingwall and Gibbs Pearson both played well in relief on the back line. The Pirates improved to 9-0-2 overall and return to the pitch on Friday evening with a Section match against McGill at Majors Field.

The Fairhope Pirates opened their Section 2 season with a 6-1 victory over Baldwin County at Majors Field on Thursday night. Nate Haywood put the Pirates on top with a blast from 40 yards out that found the upper corner at the far post. BCHS tied it up with a nice through ball that beat the keeper to the left side. Haywood came back 10 minutes later and headed home a corner kick from Mike Keyser. With 3 minutes remaining, Keyser served another corner, Haywood headed it off the crossbar, and Kevin Hickman drove it home for the 3-1 lead at intermission. The second half saw Hickman drive home an unassisted ball for a 4-1 lead. Chad Dolan and Riley Garvin teamed up to feed Parker Williams in front of the net to put the Pirates up 5-1. London Bicker closed out the scoring finishing a through ball from Spenser Baumhower. Thomas Kinsey recorded the win in goal. The Pirates are now 6-0-1 overall, and have a week off before facing Hartselle in the Island Cup tournament next Thursday.

The Varsity boys squeaked out a 1-0 victory over UMS-Wright on Tuesday night at Majors Field. A generally lack-luster performance left the Pirates knotted with the Bulldogs 0-0 at the half. Fairhope began to settle a bit and controlled play better in the second half, but still was unable to find the back of the net. Finally, Riley Garvin sent a long throw-in to the box where Bobby Douglass bicycled home the game winner with about 9 minutes to play. Another solid effort by the back line and keeper Ty Malugani made the lone goal stand up for the victory. The boys are now 5-0-1 overall, and will play BCHS on Thursday night at home.

The Fairhope Boys soccer team made history on Saturday evening becoming the first team in the history of the Southern Shootout to win back-to-back championships in the Cup Division. The Pirates opened the tournament Friday afternoon with a game against Thompson High School in a steady rain. Thompson opened the scoring with a breakaway midway through the first half. Fairhope responded with Patrick Marsh netting a cross from Colin Hunt, leaving a 1-1 tie at intermission. Moments into the second half, Bobby Douglass deflected a long throw-in off a Thompson defender to put the Pirates up 2-1. With two minutes remaining, Thompson pushed everyone, including their goalkeeper, to the offensive end for a corner kick. Fairhope cleared the corner, and Chad Dolan fed a streaking Kevin Hickman who put away the empty-net goal for the 3-1 final.

The Pirates were on the field late Friday night through an intense driving rain for the second round against UMS-Wright. The Pirates scored early with Kevin Hickman collecting a pass from Chad Dolan, beating the defenders to the right and driving home a 1-0 lead. Riley Garvin followed 5 minutes later with an unassisted tally following a scramble in front of the goal. Parker Williams finished the scoring with a strike off a Mike Keyser corner kick.

Rain-soaked fields saw the boys games moved to the artificial turf at Lipscomb Park Saturday morning. Fairhope took on Randolph High School in their 3rd game, securing a trip to the championship game with a 2-1 victory. Kyle Sherrin started the play on the first Fairhope goal with a ball to Kevin Hickman. Hickman drilled the ball goalward, but a great save by the Randolph keeper denied his effort. Sherrin was following the play, however, and put away the rebound for a 1-0 lead which stood through intermission. Midway through the 2nd half, a Patrick Marsh corner kick found Ben Studstill at the back post to head home the 2-0 lead. A Randolph goal with one minute remaining in the game resulted in the 2-1 final score.

The championship game saw a rematch of last year’s 6A quarterfinals match-up between Fairhope and Auburn. Fairhope withstood a 10 minute push by Auburn before gaining control of the match. Fifteen minutes in, Kevin Hickman found the net with a service from Riley Garvin for a 1-0 Fairhope lead. Garvin assisted on the second score with a long throw to Chad Dolan on the back post. Dolan’s shot to the upper corner put the Pirates ahead 2-0. Late in the first half, Bobby Douglass threaded a cross to Kyle Sherrin, who ran in unopposed to beat the keeper to the far side. The Pirate defense shut down the Tigers for the balance of the match to seal the tournament title. Nate Haywood led the Pirates defense throughout the weekend and was selected the tournament MVP.

The Varsity Boys opened their season with a hard fought draw with the Murphy Panthers at Cottage Hill Park in Mobile. Murphy got on the board first with a breakaway goal with about 5 minutes left in the first half. The Pirates answered two minutes later when Kevin Hickman flicked home a corner kick from Mike Keyser. The Panthers opened the second half with a put away of a corner kick to go up 2-1. The Pirates again responded moments later when Riley Garvin sent a long throw-in to the back post where Mike Keyser headed it home to draw the game even. Several chances came late in the game, but the boys weren’t able to find the back of the net. The team will be back in action on Friday evening at the Southern Shootout.

		Varsity Games