The King’s Academy Alumni Squeeze by on a Penalty Kick

It was a cold, windy evening at Huskey field on The King’s Academy campus, but the liveliness and competition on the thick green grass was scorching as the academy alumni beat the current Lions soccer team 5-4 after the penalty kick shootout.

“Coach you see these shoes,” said Ryan Burgin (Class of 1995). “These are the same shoes I wore in high school and they are older than anyone you have on your team right now.”

The night brought back many memories and laughs for the alumni but there was a game that needed to be played.

Fifteen minutes into the game, senior Andrew Benson scored when he received a beautiful pass by Harrison Atchley to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Junior Bum Jun Kim followed up that score with a score of his own when he was assisted by Jason Maduafokwa to bring the score to 2-0.

Alumni got on the board late in the first half when former Carson-Newman player Ryan Cha (’11) scored with an assist by Nick Gioioso (’09) who drove up from Chattanooga for the game. Gioioso wasn’t the only player who drove a ways to play as Josh Burgin (’99) drove in from Nashville.

The Burgin boys’ mom, Judi, was glad he did. “This game reminded me of the historical games that were played on this field in the spring,” said Judi Burgin.  “I never would have thought years ago that we would be watching all three boys (Ryan, Jeremy, and Josh) playing with Ryan’s children sitting beside us, special memories for us and for them. Ryan’s daughter even had made a sign to hold up to cheer them on.”

Atchley scored for the Lions to bring the score to 3-1 going into the half.

The alumni came out strong in the second half as Jeremy Burgin (’97) was assisted by Cha and Kiran Upadhyaya (’09) assisted Cha to tie the game up 3-3.

The Lions went back ahead as Maduafokwa was assisted by Adam Deatherage. The alumni tied the game up again as Cha finished the game with a hat trick and the score was 4-4 after regulation.

No one wanted the game to end in a tie so there was a penalty kick shootout.  With both teams making their first four penalty kicks, the Lions missed their fifth shot.  The alumni’s Andy Deatherage (’08) was taking the last kick and it just happened to be against his brother, Adam.  Andy’s kick found the upper right corner of the goal and the alumni won 5-4.

Both teams met at midfield where there were warm congratulations all around.

“Despite the cold weather it was an incredible evening,” said Dan Kirkpatrick, Director of Alumni.  “I am so proud to be associated with both teams.  It was such an enjoyable time for all.”