Oak Mtn. wins shootout

Published 9:29 pm Monday, February 23, 2009

Saturday’s girls’ soccer championship in the Lakeshore Shootout held to its name, as the top-ranked Oak Mountain Eagles edged Harrison High of Kennesaw, Ga., 4-2, on penalty kicks at Spain Park.

Oak Mountain battled to a scoreless tie after two overtime periods and picked up the tournament victory, 1-0, with four successful PKs from Julia Ferguson, Erin Fondren, Marisa Tomaszewski and Shanna Brooks.

“We had some really tough competition,” Oak Mountain head coach Kelly Clayton said. “Our defense was really consistent and strong the entire weekend. Shanna Brooks did a real good job leading everyone in the back.”

Brooks picked up three wins in goal, collecting 20 saves, while Richelle Byrd collected two shutouts in the net.

The Lady Eagles swept through the tournament to improve to 7-0 on the season after opening Friday with a 1-0 win over Decatur and 3-0 victory over Bob Jones.

Saturday, Oak Mountain defeated John Carroll, 3-0, and Spain Park, 2-0.

First-year Eagle Christine Schweer, who was named tournament MVP, scored two goals and assisted another in the tournament, while another first-year Eagle, Zehra Syed, was named Best Offensive Player. Kathryn Allison, Heather Merrick and Brooks were named to the All-Tournament team.

“In the past we’ve had a strong defense and now we’re putting some goals in. We have a dangerous attack,” Clayton said.

The win marked the first time a school has won both the boys’ and girls’ Lakeshore Shootout, as OMHS won the boys’ title Feb. 14.

LAKESHORE SHOOTOUT DIVISION A SCORES

FRIDAY

– Vestavia 1, Huntsville 1

– Harrison 2, Vestavia 0

– Bob Jones 4, John Carroll 0

– Decatur 1, John Carroll 1

– Spain Park 1, Harrison 1:

– Spain Park 5, Huntsville 0

– Oak Mountain 1, Decatur 0

– Oak Mountain 3, Bob Jones 0

SATURDAY

– Bob Jones 3, Decatur 0

– Harrison 6, Huntsville 0

– Spain Park 0, Vestavia 0:

– Oak Mountain 3, John Carroll 0

– Oak Mountain 2, Spain Park 0:

– Harrison 4, Bob Jones 0