Published: September 06, 2008 01:21 am      

Jumpers slide by Pulaski

Somerset — It’s usually a rare occurrence, but every now and then, a team outplays another yet finds itself on the short end of the scoreboard.

That was the case Thursday night at PC Field, when the Maroon soccer team squared off against arch-rival Somerset.

Pulaski County outplayed the Briar Jumpers for a significant part of the contest, and grabbed a quick, 1-0 lead in this cross-town affair early in the first half.

However, when the dust had settled in this district clash, it was Brian Blankenship’s Somerset club walking away with a hard-fought, 2-1 victory over Pulaski County.

“After PC scored that first goal, I thought our guys were playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” pointed out the SHS coach. “They lost their composure, they got real nervous, and when the ball was played to their feet they would just kick it instead of holding it for a pass.”

“That team (PC) lacked some foot skills, but they’re gonna play with heart, because it’s PC verses Somerset,” Blankenship continued. “I told the guys PC was going to bring heart into this game, and they did. We got lucky tonight, and our guys are not happy with how they played and they shouldn’t be. It impressed me with how PC played tonight. I think we deserved to lose, and I think Pulaski deserved to win, because we didn’t play to win.”

Early on, it looked as if this could possibly be the night the Maroons would gain a win over the Briar Jumpers for the first time since the 2002 district tournament.

Just three and a half minutes into the contest, Pulaski County’s Jared Burgett found the nets and with 36:41 left in the opening half of play, just like that the Maroons held a 1-0 advantage.

PC maintained that lead until only 7:51 remained in the first half of play, when freshman Trevor Herd tallied a goal, knotting this affair up at 1-1.

The score remained that way until there was only 5:36 left in the contest, when Brent Joplin’s goal proved to be the game winner, giving Somerset the 2-1 win.

“We had our opportunities but we just didn’t get the bounce,” stated PC coach Jose Barron. “The kids played their hearts out, but we just didn’t get the bounce.”

“I just told the guys they had nothing to be ashamed about with this game, because they played hard tonight and they played with heart, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for,” Barron said.

Somerset, now 4-2 on the season, will face Berea next Tuesday in the first game of the Berea Cup.

PC meanwhile will face Taylor County today in the opening round of the Garrard Cup.