By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
Jan. 9, 2001
It was a rough and tumble night, not to mention chilly, at Grey Cobb Field where the host Lamar School Raiders were handed their first loss of the season, 4-3, by the Jackson Prep Patriots.
Acton's counterpart was equally complimentary.
In the back and forth affair, Patriot Luke Addison scored a pair of goals within minutes of each other, midway through the second half to secure the tight, come-from-behind victory.
But the opening moments of the first half held plenty of excitement for the bundled up crowd in attendance.
Andy Ross nailed a swift kick into the left corner of the net to get the Patriots (7-2, 5-0 in AAA South) on the scoreboard first in just the sixth minute of the game. Just two minutes late, however, the Raiders (9-1-1, 5-1 AAA South) would respond as Austin Holmes outraced defenders and beat the goalie to tie the game. Prep's Matthew Arias ricocheted it in amidst a crowd to give his team the 2-1 lead in the 10th minute.
Several big saves by Meridian keeper Josh Jordan followed before Holmes struck again with a nifty penalty kick in the 31st minute just after some physical play. The 2-2 gridlock held up until early in the second half, when Chris Thompson, ignited the home crowd with a goal in the eighth minute.
But the lead would be short-lived. as Addison got behind the defense in the 16th and 20th segments.
The Pat defense then stiffened for the remaining 20 minutes.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.