Published: May 13, 2008 05:34 pm         

Crossville United soccer team defeats Overton for fifth place

Crossville United, Cumberland County’s middle schools soccer team, defeated the Overton County Wildcats Saturday to claim fifth place in the Upper Cumberland Soccer Conference Tournament after dropping both matches in pool play during the week.

Avery Trace 4, United 0: Fourth-place United faced the top-seeded Avery Trace Raiders in the first round of pool play Tuesday night at Cookeville.

Avery Trace scored first in the 20th minute and added three more goals over the remainder of the contest.

Crossville keeper Tyler Thompson stopped 30-plus shots in the effort.

White County 2, Crossville United 1: United players thought they would most likely play for third place against Algood Middle School when they drew sixth seeded White County for their second match in pool play Friday night at Stone Memorial High School after shutting out the Warriors 8-0 and 5-0 in the regular season. Two crucial defensive miscues allowed the upset.

United started strong with several shots on goal before a pushing foul in the penalty area in 10th minute allowed the match’s first penalty kick. Thompson dove right but the ball was just out of reach as the low shot streaked by.

The Warriors doubled their advantage in the 29th minute following a handball foul in the box and a second penalty kick. The Warrior kicker's powerful shot that rebounded off Thompson’s hands straight back to the charging attacker who drove the goal home from six yards out.

United fought back hard in the second half and Emilio Moore sliced the Warriors advantage in half in the 48th minute on a shot from eight yards out.

United 4, Overton County 1: The loss to White County set up the third meeting in nine days between the Cumberland County and Overton County in the fifth place match at Algood Middle School.

United’s roster was depleted missing the talents of midfielder-forward Emilio Moore and right midfielder Mario Martinez. The other United players rallied and used superior teamwork in the victory.

Center midfielder Skyler Keyes scored first for United in the 14th minute off an assist from forward Amsony Gayton. United’s Jarrod Lee added a second goal in the 24th minute to give Cumberland County a 2-0 halftime lead.

Gayton scored in the 37th minute off an assist from Keyes before an accidentally deflected Warrior shot glanced off defender Nick Donathon’s foot cut the lead to two. United’s Keith Fagan added the final score in the 65th minute.

Gayton and Keyes were named All-Tournament.

•In the other final matches of the tournament, the second-seed Algood Middle School Redskins shut out White County 5-0 in the third-place match and Avery Trace won the championship defeating the third-seed Monterey Panthers, 3-1.

United players are reminded to return their uniforms as soon as possible to head coach Jeremy Connors.

There will also be a booster club formed over the next few months to help support both boys’ and girls’ United teams.