CLINTON - In soccer, the term "great goal" gets thrown around a lot, so much that it often loses meaning.  What makes a goal earn an adjective?  Is it an amazing showing of individual effort?  Is perhaps the stage on which the game is played make a goal something more than a static lighted number on a scoreboard?  Furthermore, what constitutes a "great game"?  Is it the manner in which it's played or the significance of the match?  Taking all of these questions into consideration, only two things can be said about Newberry's 2-1 double overtime victory over archrival Presbyterian Tuesday evening:  It was a great game, ended by perhaps the greatest goal many fans in Clinton will ever see in person.  Newberry rises to 9-5-2 on the season, but more importantly improves to 3-2-1 in South Atlantic Conference play.

Neither team needed much motivation to play this particular eve, as the stage was set for a battle.  Presbyterian, on their home turf, was trying not only beat Newberry and simultaneously gain some much-needed ground in the SAC pecking-order, but to avenge a loss at the hands of the Indians in the 2003 SAC tournament.  The Indians were equally as hungry from the rivalry end of the match, but desperately needed a win to move with in striking distance of a fourth-place SAC regular season finish and the first-round home playoff game that comes along with it.

The whistle blew and the game was afoot.

The Blue Hose came out attacking from the get go, taking several early chances at Indian keeper Bryan Linn (Safety Harbor, Fla.).  This aggressive style paid off in the 22nd minute, as an errant ball found the foot of speedy Presbyterian forward Justin Mullner (North Augusta, S.C.).  Mullner, in a mind-boggling display of raw speed and exquisite ball control, raced past the Newberry defensive line setting up a 1 vs. 1 against Linn.  Linn had no chance whatsoever to stop the rocket sent by Mullner as the Blue Hose went up 1-0. 

While discouraged, Newberry fought back, settling down and looking for the perfect opportunity to level the match.  After a foul on Presbyterian, in the 30th minute, Chad Domis (Irmo, S.C.) sent a shot in on the right wing that hit the post.  Domis regrouped nicely after the near goal, collecting a ball in the box and sending it past Blue Hose keeper Mark Owens (Charleston, S.C.) for the equalizer.  It was the third goal of the season for Domis, and certainly his biggest.  The rest of the half was characterized by extremely physical play form both sides as the teams entered the intermission locked at one goal apiece.

The second half witnessed both teams trying to sink each other spirits early. Newberry had some good looks and Presbyterian had their chances, but it wasn't until the 61st minute when the game turned from heated to epic.  The Blue Hose midfield sent a smart ball up to Mullner, who controlled nicely and once again beat the Newberry defense.  The lethal Mullner dibbled towards Linn uncontested.  Linn calmly held his position until stepping up, robbing Mullner of a sure goal and in the process making the save of the match.  Linn was a brick wall, making seven saves on the night.

Newberry had their chance to put the game away in regulation, when in the 73rd minute Ricardo Silveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) found a loose ball on the bounce, rocketing a shot towards the Presbyterian goal.  The ball might have been trouble for the Blue Hose keeper, but was denied the opportunity to prove himself when Presbyterian forward Aaron Pretulak (Moore, S.C.) clearly knocked the ball away with his right arm.  Handball was the call and a penalty kick for Newberry would be the result.  Silveira would take the honors for the Indians.  Silveira, usually deadly from this range, started left but sent the ball right.  Owens also went left initially, but corrected himself enough to throw his body right, stopping the shot a preserving the tie.

Presbyterian dodged that bullet, but could not escape from the red card handed to Pretulak for vehemently arguing with the referee concerning his handball.  The Blue Hose were forced to play with one man down for the rest of the match.  Even with the personnel advantage, the Indians looked lethargic after the miss by Silveira, as Presbyterian attacked with purpose.  Presbyterian's Corey Jackson (McDonough, Ga.) could have sent the Blue Hose up, but was bested by Linn.  Newberry's best chance to take the lead in regulation was in the 88th minute when Jeffrey Taylor (Sumter, S.C.) had the Blue Hose keeper beat, but headed the ball over the crossbar.  Regulation ended with both teams still knotted at one.  A two-period golden goal format would be used to decide the match.

The first period ended without any real opportunities, so the second ten minute overtime period was started.  And that is where the fun really started.

The time dwindled down, as both teams began getting used to the idea of a playing to a draw this night.  Presbyterian had two fine looks an open net, but sent each shot over the crossbar.  Newberry controlled the ball and looked for one last chance to beat the Blue Hose.  Troy Pinckney (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) sent a hard shot at the goal but was turned away by a Presbyterian defender.  Pinckney sent the ball in again, hoping it would find its way to someone's foot for a shot.  The ball deflected onto the foot of Juan Pablo Wunder (Santiago, Chile) while his back was turned to the net.  Wunder, in perhaps the most brilliant goal of the season, flipped the ball into the air and used a bicycle kick to send the ball into the back of the net.  Absolute pandemonium ensued on the Indian bench as Newberry rose victorious over Presbyterian 2-1 in 2OT.

"This game was one of the best matches I have ever witnessed," said an ecstatic Newberry head coach Sam Okpodu. "I can only coach so much.  I told them that they knew better than I did about this tradition.  They were the ones who would ultimately have to take it."

And taking it is exactly what Newberry did.

Newberry has a little time to bask in the victory, but first-place Carson-Newman looms on the horizon for a 4 p.m. match on Saturday in Tennessee.