WISA Team of the Week---Central Gwinnett Boy's (GA)
Date Posted: 3/20/2015
WISA has announced Central Gwinnett Boy's and Coach Morgan as our team of the week. Congratulations from all of our staff
With a stretch of nine days off, the Central Gwinnett boy’s soccer players have plenty of time to celebrate Wednesday night’s big win.
The surging Black Knights upset Region 8-AAAAAA rival and nationally ranked Brookwood for the second time in three seasons, pulling out a 2-1 win on penalty kicks. The defending Class AAAAAA champions had three of their first four PKs stuffed by Central senior goalkeeper Ricky Ortiz, while Diego Godinez, Jorge Romero and Muhamed Omanovic made the only three kicks Central needed.
“It was a high-energy battle, just a battle,” second-year Central boys coach Cory Morgan said. “The kids left it on the field. You’ve got to give my kids credit. And give Brookwood credit. It was a game you hate to see lost in penalties because you had two teams fighting, a knockdown, and drag out war. In our region, it’s tough. Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose … I think Central’s beaten Brookwood twice in the last 24 years, so it does mean something to the kids in this community.”
Brookwood, ranked third nationally in the Top Drawer Soccer poll and No. 1 in Georgia, saw an 18-game winning streak dating back to last season end. The Broncos (10-1, 2-1 region) had won 32 of their previous 33 matches.
Now Central sits in great shape at 7-2 overall and 3-0 in the region. Its next game isn’t until March 27 at Berkmar.
That leaves ample time to think about the upset of Brookwood.
“It was a very even matchup, neither team deserved to lose,” Morgan said. “It was an old fashioned slugfest that could have gone either way. They are very well-coached, extremely organized, and there is a reason they have had the success they’ve had. Those kids still haven’t gotten beat on the field in two years. They’re a top-notch program, very well-coached and well-organized.”
Brookwood scored first in the 14th minute, but Central answered with Alejandro Rios’ equalizer in the 26th minute. Both teams had chances the rest of the way, but neither broke through. Ortiz and a Central defense led by Godinez, Eric Arevalo and Kevin Lopez was stout throughout the match.
While the play during regulation and overtime was even, the PK round was dominated by Central, which made its first three kicks and didn’t have to take a fourth thanks to Ortiz. The tall goalkeeper saved three of Brookwood’s first four PKs, the last a clincher. “It was an even game, it came down to penalties and I have a (Daily Post) Super Six keeper in net,” Morgan said.