FORT MILL -- Fort Mill's cooler heads prevailed in Tuesday's first round game against Mauldin as a three-goal outburst midway through the second half propelled the Yellow Jackets into Thursday's second round with a 3-0 win over Mauldin.
The two soccer powers clashed in the quarterfinals in 2006 with the Mavericks edging Fort Mill 3-2 at Bob Jones Stadium. Mauldin's eight senior starters, including all-state goalkeeper Shane Hoover, were a part of that victory two years ago.
For much of the first half, it seemed the game was destined for overtime, as both sides were unable to finish scoring opportunities.
Fort Mill (13-5), which earned the No. 2 seed out of Region 3-AAAA, attacked early and often, but failed to finish the ball.
There was plenty of firepower in the Fort Mill attack, but stellar saves by Hoover kept Mauldin in the game.
Yellow Jackets' junior midfield Tyler Voduker crossed a beautiful ball into the box that found the head of junior Chris Landvik-Larsen. His header in the 21st minute was tipped by Hoover and the ball bounced off the post to keep the clean sheet. Fort Mill goalkeeper Sean Van Etten wasn't to be outdone as his heroic diving save less than two minutes later prevented Kyle Frye from putting the Mavericks out front.
With the score knotted at zero, Fort Mill continued to press when the second half opened. Mauldin didn't back down either, and the intensity of both squads was what you'd expect in a playoff matchup.
It was Fort Mill's persistency, however, that led to two goals in a seven-minute stretch to seal the victory and a trip to the second round to play Greenwood, the No.1-seed out of Region 1-AAAA, who advanced after downing Aiken on Tuesday.
"In the second half, I thought we took over," said Fort Mill coach Lloyd Chalker. "I think they got a little tired and then we scored a goal and they got down on themselves."
Senior Ryan Fielden started the attack in the 53rd minute when his pass to Landvik-Larsen was nudged out of bounds by a Maverick defender, leading to a throw in. Fielden's throw was a bullet straight to the backpost where David Walas soared above the defense and headed it into the goal.
Moments later, senior Eric Fielden received a long ball sent deep into Maverick territory by Vudoker and found himself in a two-on-one situation in which he calmly headed the ball past a charging Hoover. Fort Mill's bench, and raucous crowd, erupted as the ball rolled into the open net, as everyone could taste victory.
"We did what we had to do and put away our chances which has been our sore thumb all year as we'd been getting chances and not finish. Tonight, we put them away and after two I think it was over. Getting payback on them, it was nice considering a lot of those guys were on that team (that beat us in 2006)," Chalker said with a smile.
Trailing 2-0, Mauldin (12-8) became frustrated and started committing fouls. Six yellow and two red cards were handed to the Mavericks as tensions mounted late in the game. First-year coach Ben Lailson certainly wasn't pleased with the way his team finished the game.
Matthew Knowe connected with Landvik-Larsen in the 71st minute to put the icing on the cake. Knowe dribbled into the 18-yard box and beat a defender, then passed the ball across the box to an open Landvik-Larsen who turned and fired a shot into the right corner to put the Yellow Jackets up 3-0.
