The Suwannee boys soccer team took to the field Saturday, Dec., 11 against P.K. Yonge of Gainesville. Suwannee was coming off a disappointing loss 4-0 to neighboring rival Columbia County on the preceding Monday night. The Blue Wave of P.K. Yonge, also had beaten Suwannee, 4-0 in a Pre-season Classic tournament in Gainesville in early November.

The weather was beautiful for soccer, and the small but enthusiastic crowd was in for an unusual match. Suwannee at the very beginning made a quick attack, and less than a minute in, the young keeper for P.K. Yonge pulled himself far out of the goal. Senior, Co-Captain Will Posey saw what was developing and quickly booted a long high shot over the advancing keeper and the other defenders and saw it settle into the net for a quick 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs.

Cameron Ridgeway was called upon to be keeper for Suwannee, and he was quickly tested. As he faced the southern end of the field into the setting sun, the Blue Wave quickly attacked his goal. Ridgeway made a good save on a hard kick. P.K. Yonge kept the ball at Suwannee’s goal, yet the defense was generally up to the test. On a quick throw in, however, one of the Blue Wave players, bent a beautiful shot into the left corner of the goal to tie the score at 1-1.

The early scores by either team were all that could be managed in the first half, as both defenses seemed to be able to stall the other’s advances. Suwannee though, was to have some bad luck as the active Billy Moran picked up a yellow card on a defensive move. Shortly after, as spirited play continued, Moran again appeared to have made good

defensive play, but the official judged his play dangerous. He received his second yellow card resulting in a red card, and thus he had to sit out the rest of the game. Even more damaging that the loss of Moran was the fact that Suwannee would have to finish the game with “one man down” and play with only 10 players.

Coach Johnson made some assignment moves to strengthen the defensive side of the field due to the 10-man penalty under which Suwannee was forced to play. Ridgeway, late in the second half again made a great save on a rocket shot, as he managed to leap and just deflect a ball that would have been in the net just under the cross bar. Meanwhile the Suwannee team hustled well and closed out the half with the 1-1 tie.

The second half saw Suwannee continue to hold off the P.K. Yonge advances with only 10 men. After repeated advances a long Blue Wave shot was taken. Ridgeway made a good play on the ball, caught it high over his head, but was hit by a P. K.. Yonge defender. The ball came loose, bounced and it appeared that a P.K.Yonge player swatted the ball into the net with his hand. The officials ruled no interference was made on the keeper and made no call on what appeared to be a “hand ball” goal. P. K. Yonge then went up 2-1.

The Suwannee fans not only had questions about the play but were even unsure as to whether the goal counted until finally the official placed the ball in midfield to restart play.

Coach Johnson kept substituting and moving players into different positions in order to hold the Blue Wave in check. The Wave repeatedly attempted attacks, but the Bulldog defense held. On two separate occasions PKY players were awarded free kicks, but Suwannee defended well. One of the free kicks was a blistering shot, that Ridgeway quickly dove horizontally toward to strike away from the corner of the net.

With nine minutes to play, Coach Johnson, moved a defender back to striker in order to create some offense. Following the game he said of the move, “We had little to lose at that point. I wanted to see if we could mount a scoring threat, as we were down 2-1 anyway.” Coach Johnson’s strategy paid off. With about three and a half minutes left, J. D. Hales took a ball from the defensive field and drove across midfield toward the P.K.Yonge goal. As he neared the goal he struck a strong shot that the keeper was unable to handle. The keeper fell and the ball was loose. Senior Co-Captain Reggie Johnson, hustling up the field, was right in position, with a defender all over him, but he managed to punch in the last goal of the night to give Suwannee a well deserved and hard fought 2-2 tie.

The game ended shortly after Suwannee’s second goal.

Coach Johnson after the game was very disappointed in the officiating. Suwannee had received four yellow cards and a red card and the visitors none.

He happily acknowledged that his players kept playing hard the entire game. “They could have easily given up, but they worked together to come back for the tie.” Coach Johnson also gave credit to the boys’ restraint, in regard to the many officiating decisions that seemed to go against the Dogs. Johnson was very pleased that a Suwannee squad that had lost to this team 4-0 only weeks ago, could hold PKY to two goals, one of which was suspect, and also manage two goals on their own while playing 60 of the 80 minutes short one man.

Johnson announced that the player of the week, was Cameron Ridgeway. Ridgeway stepped in on short notice to be Suwannee’s keeper and racked up 18 saves against P.K. Yonge.

The Bulldogs next match is at Clay County on Friday, Dec. 17. They then take a break from play during the holidays, until a Christmas tournament in Lake City beginning on Dec. 28. The next home game is with state powerhouse Bolles of Jacksonville on Tuesday, Jan. 4. The junior varsity will play that day at 5 p.m. and the varsity boys lace them up at 7 p.m.. Come out a support your Suwannee Bulldog soccer team.