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High School Soccer:
Shawnee Captures Group 4 Soccer Title

Friday, November 9, 2001

By Jerome Michaels
SJSports Special Correspondent

It was a game that Cherry Hill East seemed to dominate the entire afternoon in front of a capacity crowd. A classic battle between two powerhouse soccer teams met to decide who would capture the South Jersey Group 4 boy's soccer title. The Shawnee Renegades kept their composer all game not allowing the Cougars to get a real good shot on goal. This was a game that only one goal would be scored and it happened at the very end of the second overtime period when Jamie Franks got his shot into the net for the 1-0 victory.

These two teams did exactly what the top two teams should do in their playoff bracket. Cherry Hill East was seeded first getting past Winslow Township and Southern. Shawnee, seeded second, beat Brick Memorial and Washington Township to advance to this game. The momentum was definitely in favor of the Cougars, but this was a game that Shawnee did not let get away.

Every attack made on the goal made everyone think that maybe this time the game would end. By the end of regulation, the anxiety grew knowing that one of these excellent soccer programs had to lose. The first overtime period seemed to just zip by as the clock ran out. Even in the second overtime, you could see some tired legs on the field and easily anticipating the game would be won by a shoot out. But Shawnee's Adam Franks received a pass from Steve King and scored the lone goal to win this exciting boy's soccer game.

Photos by Art Redd

©2001 South Jersey Sports Online Inc.