Game Report
Tigers vs. Magpies
23rd June 2007


North Carolina Tigers hosted the New York Magpies this past Saturday in Raleigh, NC. The Magpies have had the better of the Tigers over the past couple of years, so the club was looking for revenge. The Tigers fielded a strong line up, with a good mixture of experience and youthful exuberance. The New York traveling squad was over 25 strong.

From the onset, the game was highly competitive. After a scrappy start in the center, New York goaled two minutes into the game, utilizing the breeze to full advantage. Only one minute passed before a well executed series of kicks lead to another New York set shot at goal. It was an accurate shot and gave the Magpies an early lead. After two quick goals, both teams settled in for a long battle. The Tigers controlled most of the scoring shots for the rest of the quarter, with Jason Heathcote exerting his presence taking strong marks and kicking the singular goal for the Tigers. Utility player Wes McCallister also had a chance to goal but the ball drifted left of his boot, resulting in only a point. The Tigers finished the quarter 1.4 10 points to the Magpies 2.1 13 points.

The second quarter began well for the Tigers with an immediate clearance out of the middle. The ball was trapped in the forward line for the Tigers for seemingly minutes, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize and only came away with one point. Half way through the quarter the Magpies shifted gears and piled on two quick goals. Another goal followed and the Magpies were starting to build a commanding lead. More goals would have followed if it wasn't for the gallant efforts of the Tiger's backline. Paul Duncan was a rock at Full Back, as was Phil Schreibman, Jordan Lee, and Ben Hess. Michael Coysh found open space late in the second quarter to lead to. He marked convincingly and shot truly for a goal. At half time the Magpies lead by 4 goals, 36 points to the Tigers 12.

At the half time break coach Jason Heathcote called for his players to be leaders on the field. He demanded every player on the field be accountable to himself and his team, giving 100% for 100% of the quarter. With no injuries hampering the Tigers, they were ready to pounce in the third quarter.

Ben Wetzel opened the scoring for the Tigers in the third quarter, kicking a point from a set shot at goal. McCallister followed soon after with another point. Will Harvey kicked truly for the Tigers 6 minutes into the quarter to provide a much needed goal for the Tigers. New player Patrick Casey, along with another goal from Heathcote, brought the Tigers closer with much needed goals. The efforts of Zach Tart and Brendan O'Brien helped keep the Magpies contained to only one goal in the entire third quarter. At the three quarter time break, the Magpies lead by only 14 points.

The fourth quarter was a hard fought struggle. Both teams traded goals to begin the quarter, but the Tigers were only able to score another point for the quarter. The Magpies showed their true class, scoring four goals in the fourth quarter to secure their win. The Tigers never gave up with Andrew Fogarty, Rob Sayre-McCord, and Terry Green playing hard all quarter. Final score was Tigers 5.11 41 to Magpies 11.8 74.

Tigers Goals: Heathcote 2, Coysh 1, McCallister 1, Harvey 1.
Tigers Best: Sayre-McCord, McCallister, O'Brien, Coysh, Heathcote, Duncan, Harvey.