Myers Park girls soccer suspended playoff game called, Mustangs lose

Myers Park's girls soccer team had a disappointing end to its season this weekend.

The Mustangs thought they would have a chance to complete a suspended first round playoff game with East Forsyth. The game started Friday but was called with 27 minutes left in the second half with East Forysth leading 2-0.

Officials tried to wait for stormy weather to clear out of the Winston-Salem area, but at 10:30 p.m., more bad weather rolled in and Myers Park soccer coach Bucky McCarley said school officials met with the referees. McCarley said the booking agent and referees informed them that the game could be postponed and finished Monday. The ADs from both schools agreed to play tonight (5/16) at 6.

The teams decided not to try Saturday night because Myers Park had the prom then.

Unfortunately, state and national rules say if a game is suspended in the second half and a winner can be determined, the team that is leading is declared the winner. If the game is tied, then it will be postponed and resumed. N.C. High School Athletic Association spokesperson Rick Strunk told the Observer that at least one other girls soccer game in the state was postponed at 0-0 by bad weather and will be finished tonight.

"The rule is in the handbook and I knew the rule going in," said Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley. "We understood the rule was the game needed to be finished (Friday). I said (to school officials and referees), 'Listen, we're down 2-0 with (27) minutes left and I have every reason to believe my team can tie. We'll be here to 3 a.m.'"

Athletics directors from both schools met with the game officials after speaking with both coaches. Game officials informed the ADs that the game could be postponed and played Monday, according to McCarley and Myers Park athletics director Rick Lewis.

McCarley said he wrongly assumed that the game officials would have ultimate authority and could override the handbook.

So Myers Park came back to Charlotte late Friday night and started thinking about trying to come back and tie the game to force overtime. But Saturday, the NCHSAA called Lewis with bad news: the rule in the handbook would be enforced.

"We all took the refs and the booking agent at their words that the game could be completed," McCarley said. "I assumed wrongly. Honestly, I hurt -- and I don't use that word lightly - for the players and this team. It's just hard to explain this to high school girls. In hindsight, I would've waited to try to finish this game."

Lewis said, like McCarley, he was awful disappointed for the team.

"It's disappointing the kids don’t get to finish out the process," he said. "Down 2-0 with 27 minutes, you can make a comeback in that. The solution we came up with seemed very common sense, and everybody was in agreement, but the rule book and the handbook states it in there, in black and white. It's just an unfortunate thing all the way around. I would’ve liked for our girls to finish the last 27 minutes."