Panama City Pirates News Release - www.panamacitypirates.com

Saturday, May 3, 2008

SANFORD, FL -- The Pirates began their inaugural season on Saturday in Sanford, FL with a 2-1 loss against the Central Florida Kraze; however, the match did see the first goal in franchise history scored by Jimmy McHenry.

Carlos Araujo opened the scoring for the Kraze in the 22nd minute, and completed his brace three minutes later.

The Pirates reorganized at halftime, making four substitutions. This brought new life to the Pirates, who pulled within a goal in the 54th minute on a left-footed one-time shot by Jimmy McHenry.

The goal brought confidence to a Pirate squad searching for it, but unfortunately the team was not able to equalize in spite of multiple second half chances. The final whistle blew for a final score line of 2-1 in favor of the Central Florida Kraze.

The result brings the Pirates record to 0-1-0, leaving the team still searching for the first points in franchise history. The Central Florida Kraze draw first blood in the PDL Southeast; rising to 1-0-0 for three points. The two teams square off again tomorrow, May 4, at Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, FL at 2:00 PM.

After controlling play for much of the first half, the Kraze opened the scoring when midfielder Mike Mattson sent a low cross into the six yard box which Carlos Araujo neatly tucked into the far corner. Three minutes later, Araujo completed his brace on a very similar play, with Mattson providing service in the form of a low cross into the six yard box.

The Pirates came out after halftime fighting to take the game to the Kraze, and just three minutes into the second half, sub Clay Watkins registered his first foul, and his first yellow card. Nine minutes into the second half, substitute midfielder Pat Cannon received a pass from forward Jimmy McHenry, who took the ball into the corner and served a cross directly onto the left foot of Jimmy McHenry, who took a first time shot and buried the ball in the top of the net from less than six yards out.

Even though the score line went against the Pirates, the match was not without positives. Jimmy McHenry’s goal gave the Pirate faithful something they could be proud of, and the team’s overall second half play showed a very quick learning curve.

Head Coach Bill Elliott affirmed the success of the second half, saying, “One of the things we talked about at halftime was that we didn’t need two goals, just one goal. If we got that, it would be an interesting game and I think it was an interesting game from that point forward. We put the ball fairly close to their goal and put them in some very uncomfortable situations. Unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize completely, but I think the second half in general was very positive.”

Jimmy McHenry was happy to be a part of Pirates history, and praised the team’s second half resurgence. “Coming together like that, and pulling one back, proving that we can play with these teams, it’s a good positive. There were a lot of good things that happened out there for us.”