Michael Williamson had it rough Friday afternoon. The goal keeper for the Orangeburg Prep soccer team trotted out to begin his team's game against Calhoun Academy with a pair of gray sweat pants on. By the end of the game, Williamson had spent so much time diving after Cavalier shots on the Indians' wet field that his paints were soaked and colored more black than gray.

In the end, his efforts were visible but they were also for naught as Calhoun improved to 3-0 on the season with a 2-1 win. The Indians fell to 0-2 on the season, but they didn't go down without a fight.

The Cavaliers led 2-0 late in the game, but Orangeburg Prep's Ben Ford managed to get behind the Calhoun Academy defense and fire a shot past Cavalier goal keeper John Brunt with 4:58 to play. The goal set off a furious pace to the game's end as the Indians -- who had threatened to score little until that point -- managed to get two more shots on goal in the game. Calhoun also attacked over the final few minutes of the game, firing on the Orangeburg Prep goal six times. Also, Williamson came up with a save on a penalty kick from Calhoun standout Stuart Brunt with 3:20 to go.

But, Brunt had already done his damage. The Anderson College signee scored on a breakaway goal with 19:05 to play in the first half to give Calhoun Academy a 1-0 lead, and he increased the lead to 2-0 on a penalty kick with 33:48 to go in the second half. When he wasn't scoring, Brunt was leading a Cavalier offense that stayed on Orangeburg Prep's half of the field for most of the game.

"(Brunt) is a very good player," said Orangeburg Prep head coach Tim Whitman. "His penalty kick killed us. That really took our wind out, but other than that our kids played good."

Calhoun Academy head coach Glenn Puckett said he was pleased with his team's victory.

"It was exciting," he said. "OP did an excellent job, but we just played our hearts out and pulled it out.

"We were able to move the ball," Puckett added. "Our passing was good tonight, and our communication was excellent."

Williamson finished the game with 15 saves. John Brunt had nine saves for Calhoun.

The Cavaliers are scheduled to host Covenant Christian Monday while Orangeburg Prep will host Camden Military. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

T&D Sports Writer Brian Linder can be reached by e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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