Post by BFDad on Feb 21, 2004 3:38:22 GMT -6
taken from local news paper:
"Franklin edges Pineville on corner kick
Scott Hotard / Sports Writer
Posted on February 21, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - Ben Franklin coach Diego Gonzalez barked instructions at every change of possession and paced the sideline with a clipboard in hand, trying his best to look the part of a confident veteran who had no doubts whether his Falcons would prevail.
Talk about a tall order.
The 26th-year soccer coach watched Franklin dominate field position throughout Friday's Division II semifinal against Pineville, yet his insides were turning as the 52th minute arrived and the match was still scoreless. That's when captain halfback Fabian Nehrbass scored the only goal of the night, converting a corner kick from sophomore Clinton Smith with a header into the back of the net.
"This was a really nerve-racking game for me," Gonzalez said later, a 1-0 victory in the bag. "There were times when I thought I had dodged a bullet or two."
He can thank Andrew McPeters for that.
Franklin kept taking its shots at the Pineville goal, and McPeters, the Rebels' first-year keeper, kept turning them away. He wound up with 12 saves, sprawling out time and again on the turf of Tad Gormley Stadium. At any point in the match when McPeters had a moment to gather himself, he was invariably barking encouragement at the Pineville strikers, saying, "C'mon on, Rebels, let's win it!"
It didn't happen that way for the visitors, who appeared to be overmatched by Franklin's skill from the opening kick. But the Rebels (16-8-2) will certainly take something away from their second semifinal match in three years: They know they've closed the gap between themselves and the door to their first state championship game appearance.
"We came here and played well," said Pineville coach Joe Campbell. "That's all you can expect."
Few expected this type of season for the Falcons (13-2-2), who will play for their first state title with a lineup that's dominated by first-year starters. That might be why Gonzalez is so fond of Nehrbass. The only four-year letterman on the Franklin roster, Nehrbass is the point guard of the offense, the guy who dictates the flow of the game and takes command on the field whenever times get tight.
Such was the case when Smith went to the corner for that pivotal play in the second half, with Franklin needing a goal in the worst of ways. He laid it up just right for Nehrbass, who outjumped a pair of defenders and sent a header over McPeters, finally giving the Franklin coach a moment to relax and enjoy the game."
Congrats Ben Franklin, and good luck in the finals!
"Franklin edges Pineville on corner kick
Scott Hotard / Sports Writer
Posted on February 21, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - Ben Franklin coach Diego Gonzalez barked instructions at every change of possession and paced the sideline with a clipboard in hand, trying his best to look the part of a confident veteran who had no doubts whether his Falcons would prevail.
Talk about a tall order.
The 26th-year soccer coach watched Franklin dominate field position throughout Friday's Division II semifinal against Pineville, yet his insides were turning as the 52th minute arrived and the match was still scoreless. That's when captain halfback Fabian Nehrbass scored the only goal of the night, converting a corner kick from sophomore Clinton Smith with a header into the back of the net.
"This was a really nerve-racking game for me," Gonzalez said later, a 1-0 victory in the bag. "There were times when I thought I had dodged a bullet or two."
He can thank Andrew McPeters for that.
Franklin kept taking its shots at the Pineville goal, and McPeters, the Rebels' first-year keeper, kept turning them away. He wound up with 12 saves, sprawling out time and again on the turf of Tad Gormley Stadium. At any point in the match when McPeters had a moment to gather himself, he was invariably barking encouragement at the Pineville strikers, saying, "C'mon on, Rebels, let's win it!"
It didn't happen that way for the visitors, who appeared to be overmatched by Franklin's skill from the opening kick. But the Rebels (16-8-2) will certainly take something away from their second semifinal match in three years: They know they've closed the gap between themselves and the door to their first state championship game appearance.
"We came here and played well," said Pineville coach Joe Campbell. "That's all you can expect."
Few expected this type of season for the Falcons (13-2-2), who will play for their first state title with a lineup that's dominated by first-year starters. That might be why Gonzalez is so fond of Nehrbass. The only four-year letterman on the Franklin roster, Nehrbass is the point guard of the offense, the guy who dictates the flow of the game and takes command on the field whenever times get tight.
Such was the case when Smith went to the corner for that pivotal play in the second half, with Franklin needing a goal in the worst of ways. He laid it up just right for Nehrbass, who outjumped a pair of defenders and sent a header over McPeters, finally giving the Franklin coach a moment to relax and enjoy the game."
Congrats Ben Franklin, and good luck in the finals!