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46 °F 5 Day Forecast Sunday, November 30, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 5, 2003 Tigers weather upset bid by Phoenix By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune TALENT — Phoenix’s strategy against top-ranked and two-time defending Class 3A boys soccer champion Junction City worked the way coach Dennis Flenner envisioned in a first-round playoff game Tuesday. The only flaw was game-planning against the weather. With snow falling the entire second half, Junction City scored a weather-induced winning goal at the 88th minute to advance with a 2-1 victory over the Pirates at Hagler-James Park. Junction City advances to the second round against Central, a 4-1 winner over Sutherlin. Advertisement Phoenix had scored three minutes earlier to tie the match 1-1 on John Feeney’s direct kick into the upper right part of the net that deflected off the shoulder of a Tiger player on the wall. Then the Tigers cashed in on an attack soon afterwards when senior midfielder Eric Richards got control of the ball on the right flank and hit a low shot from 20 yards that Phoenix goal keeper John Rowden could not handle. "We got caught getting back on defense," said a dejected Rowden. "It was a heck of shot. I have no excuses." In Rowden’s defense, the cold, snowy conditions made the soccer ball as slick as an ice cube. "We knew if anyone would get a shot up that close, it could be the deciding factor," said Flenner. "The ball was getting heavier and heavier." As the game progressed, Rowden was having more and more trouble cleanly controlling the ball around the net. And on Richard’s shot, he just let it slip through his hands. "I was just praying it would go in," said a shivering Richards about his winning goal. "I knew it was slick, and if I hit it good, it might have a chance." Junction City (12-2-1) dominated possession after the opening 15 minutes of the game. That was no surprise to Flenner, whose fifth-ranked Pirates’ (13-2) only other loss was a 4-0 setback to Junction City earlier in the season. "We decided to lay back and let them play their game," said Flenner. "We’re very offensive in our style, but today we weren’t. We didn’t want to be overly aggressive and get down early." While Junction City possessed the ball in the Phoenix zone most of the first half, the Tigers’ two most dangerous chances were rejected by senior defender Kevin Cowley. Cowley headed out a ball destined for the back of the net after a corner kick in about the 10th minute. Phoenix countered right after with its best chance of the half. Junction City goalkeeper Kyle Raymond was forced to make a diving stop on a low shot by an open Feeney. Cowley made another alert play at the 16th minute when he reacted quickly by kicking away a shot right at the goal line in front of the net. "(Junction City) was real fast and had good passing," said Cowley. "They attacked wide and brought it back over the middle." Phoenix sophomore midfielder Kyle McKinnis was the most effective Pirate on the attack. McKinnis demonstrated explosive speed, driving the ball into the Tigers’ zone up the flanks. The Pirates tried to free Adam Machado for some opportunities, but the speedy senior forward didn’t have many chances. "We were having our forwards cross and tried to confuse their defense," said McKinnis. Junction City’s defense, led by Jonathan Lunt, Jordan Dufek and Todd Ceniga, did not allow the Pirates much open room. Junction City appeared to get the only goal it would need at the 65th minute off a crisp pass. Senior midfielder Kyle Nielsen drew the Pirate defense to the left inside the penalty box, then slipped a nifty pass to Michael Zemba, who deposited the ball into the right side of the net past a diving Rowden. Zemba did a sliding belly-flop to celebrate what he thought was the game-winner. But about 10 minutes later, Ceniga fouled junior midfielder Uriel Castillo outside the box and Feeney boomed in the kick to even the score. "We wanted to keep it close and take our chances," said Flenner. "We were in it until the end." Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times