Orange defeats Navy in soccer shootout

By Jennifer Bacchus
Consolidated Publishing News

JACKSONVILLE – At the end of Monday night’s game between the Orange Mashburns and Navy Stricklins the score was tied at three.

Since the teams are part of Jacksonville PARD’s 11U league, however, the game didn’t end in a tie.

It went into a shootout.

During regulation play, Orange Mashburn scored first on a penalty kick by Spencer Stephens.

This was answered by a goal from Josh Wilson of the Navy Stricklins, ending the first half in a tie.

During the second half, Navy’s TJ Stricklin kicked in the third goal of the game, followed by two more Mashburn scores from Spencer Pace and Stephens.

With the score at 3-2 and time running down, Wilson made the final goal of the game for the Navy team.

As parents began to pack their gear and the teams each shook hands, one of the referees called both teams together and informed them there would be a shootout to settle the tie.

“It’s a good way to break a tie,” said Chuck Stricklin of the shootout, adding that it is the way that professional soccer leagues break ties and it gives the children needed experience.

Lyn Mashburn and Chuck Stricklin each chose five players to represent their team and they lined up across the field.

Aaron Smith and Kyle Bacchus, goalies for Navy and Orange respectively, took turns defending the goal against shots taken by the chosen players.

It was the first time either coach had participated in a shoot-out, since neither had been in the 11U league before.

“I had read over the rules, so I’m sure that I’d read over it and knew it that it was there,” said Stricklin as he acknowledged his surprise over the decision to break the tie with a shootout.

Three of the Mashburn players, Spencer Pace, Sarah Kate Norris and Brianna Russell made their shot, while Andrew Record was the only Navy player to get a goal.

“He is playing some awesome goalie,” said Mashburn of Bacchus. “Without him we’re nowhere near winning that game.”

The final score was 6-4.

On Monday, Sept. 25, Navy Stricklin will face off against White McCreless at 5:30 p.m. and Orange Mashburn will take the field with Red Marbut at 7 p.m. Both games will be held at Henry Farm Park.