Greenville Lions blank Commerce 3-0 in season soccer finale
March 19, 2011

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

Greenville's Lions wrapped up the 2011 soccer season with a 3-0 victory over Commerce on Friday night at T.A. "Cotton" Ford Stadium.

The Lions finished with a 4-13-2 season record and 4-6 record in District 19-4A. Greenville needed some help from Paris against Princeton but a tie in that 19-4A match knocked the Lions out of going to the playoffs as the fourth-place finisher.

"We played a lot better than we did last time," said Greenville coach Jeff Crank, whose Lions also beat Commerce 3-0 at Commerce on Feb. 25.

The Lions had some shots bang off the post during Friday night's rematch and Commerce goalkeeper Caleb Whitley turned the Lions back on some other promising scoring opportunities as Greenville took 23 shots with 17 on goal.

"Their keeper made some great saves," said Crank. "He's a great keeper. We finished a few."

Jacob Phillips and Emerson Flores scored for the Lions.

Greenville was also credited with an own-goal against Commerce after a shot by Miguel Sanchez was deflected off a Commerce defender into the Lions' goal.