Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011

Worley's save decides Cap Eight championship

Forward Michael Clemmons scores his goal in the first half

At some point, whether early in the match or when his team needs a spark, Sanderson goalkeeper Beau Worley gets a chance to make a pivotal save.

In Thursday night's match against Enloe, in the Cap Eight soccer tournament championship, Worley spent most of the second half watching the clock, wondering whether Sanderson's 1-0 lead would hold up.

Then came the 63rd minute, when Enloe forward Mike Paye broke free from his defender. Worley decided to charged Paye. Using both hands, Worley made a diving save - his most challenging of the match - to preserve Sanderson's victory.

"I just went all out, and I tried to get there first," Worley said. "He did get a foot on it, but I was there."

Although coming out of the penalty box is scary, Worley said it comes with protecting his teammates. After the match, coach Todd Worley, Beau's uncle, praised his nephew's effort.

"Beau didn't have to do a lot, but he came up big when he had to," Todd Worley said. "He's had a great year and that was one of his better saves given it came in crunch time."

Sanderson (20-2-2) scored its lone goal on a similar play.

In the 20th minute, midfielder Connor Francis was able to find his teammate, forward Michael Clemmons, on a long pass to the left side. Clemmons outran his defender and had a one-on-one opportunity against Enloe goalkeeper Nathan Feinstein.

Clemmons took two dribbles with his right foot before sending the ball into the net.

"It all happened really fast," Clemmons said of the play. "I didn't think about it. I just did it."

Clemmons' ability to trust his instincts - just like Beau Worley did - was what Todd Worley said gave the Spartans enough separation to win the match.

"Michael is a good ballplayer and that was a nice shot," Todd Worley said of Clemmons, who didn't play for Sanderson last year. "We're lucky to have him."

In a sense, the Spartans said winning the tournament validated them after they surprised many by winning the conference regular season.

"To win the two titles was something we didn't expect," Todd Worley said. "Once they started realizing they could win both I think they worked very hard for it."

After winning 15 consecutive matches, the Spartans struggled in the final week of the season by tying Enloe (14-6-3) and losing to Broughton.

"We had a lapse the last week and that really humbled us," Beau Worley said. "It just made us want to come out here and win (the tournament) even more."