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Bad breaks sink the Panthers photo by Andrew Mariman Westview nets 2-1 playoff win with late score By Kris Henry If it weren�t for bad luck, the South Medford boys soccer team might have no luck at all. The Panthers outplayed Westview in a physical third-round state playoff tilt, only to have the Wildcats take a 2-1 victory with two fluke goals in the final 10 minutes Tuesday at Fichtner-Mainwaring Park. The loss marked the second time in three years that Westview (16-2) knocked South (11-4-1) from the playoffs, with both losses coming due to late lapses. "It�s frustrating because the boys played well enough to win the game," said South coach Dave Potter, "and this team is capable of going a long way in the state tournament. Now it�s over. "It�s an unfortunate ending and one that we need to learn from. I don�t believe the better team today walked off the field with the win. You depend a little bit on luck sometimes, and sometimes you get unlucky." For his team�s side, Westview coach Jim Lekas said the Wildcats were fortunate to escape Medford with a victory. "This was a barnburner," said Lekas. "You have to give South credit because they were the toughest, scrappiest team we�ve come up against so far this season. The thing that�s amazing is how young they are. That�s the future of the state right there. "We are fortunate to be moving on. I have to hand it to Dave Potter." The Panthers had far more scoring opportunities than Westview, finally capitalizing on the game�s first goal in the 63rd minute. Craig Tomlins lofted a perfect corner kick from the left side to Jon McCollum, who patiently waited at the far post and volleyed the cross into the net. McCollum�s goal cleared the air in a game where both teams played with the tension a playoff game creates. For the game, the teams were handed a combined four yellow cards and one questionable yellow-red that sidelined one of South�s outstanding defenders, Adam Walport, for the second half. South controlled its excitement following McCollum�s goal, only to have yet another controversial referee�s decision led to Westview�s first prime scoring opportunity since the opening minute of the second half. Westview�s Joey Duran mishit a direct kick at midfield but instead of a goal kick, a corner kick was awarded to the Wildcats after the referee ruled the ball deflected off a Panther. Still a little surprised by the call, South was caught napping on the ensuing cross as Ross Fagan curled the ball inside the near post and it was tapped in by Mike Leal in the 70th minute. "That ball no more than hit a thread on a shirt, maybe, of a South player," Potter said of the crucial judgment. "Then on the corner kick, we do not do our job and clear the ball out. When you don�t do that, you�re going to get punished against a good team." The Panthers rebounded with spirited play before bad luck once again reared its ugly head. With the Wildcats applying pressure in South�s box, the ball was reversed right and then hit into a mass of players. The referee ruled that a Panther player was guilty of using his hands in the box, which led to a penalty kick at the 71st minute. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Leal deftly rocketed a shot low into the left corner ahead of a sprawling Kyle Hadley for Westview�s deciding goal. "He�s cool as a cucumber," Lekas said of his leading scorer. "We know when he steps up to the line to take a penalty kick, he�s going to be able to tuck that away." Some questioned whether the game should have come down to that situation. "How unlucky can you get when a ball ricochets off a body and hits a player who is up balancing in the air with his arms out," said Potter. "A lot of referees don�t call that a hand ball because it�s accidental in the box, but he called it and the kid puts in a good PK." Still, Potter said his team had plenty of chances to make the outcome different. "This game should have been over in the opening 15 minutes of play," said the coach. "We had four or five outstanding opportunities in the first half and came away with absolutely nothing. "We did not attack the ball inside the 6 like we needed to. We had players there when the ball was in position. All the work was done, we just had to finish it off with a flurry of activity and footwork and we didn�t. Some outstanding opportunities escaped us." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.