Gazette Cup a week away

Pairings are set for the 18th annual Gazette Area Soccer Cup, scheduled for Aug. 23-28 at Poston Park in Lowell.

Defending champion Forestview will start the action with an Aug. 23 matchup against Hunter Huss. East Gaston and Highland Tech also play on the opening day. Ashbrook, Gaston Day, South Point and North Gaston make up the opposite group, which begins play Aug. 24.

Each team faces two predetermined opponents over the first four days, with teams trying to earn enough points to qualify for Saturday’s 4 p.m. championship game. Teams accrue three points for each win, one point for a tie and an additional point for a shutout (unless it’s a 0-0 tie). Ties will be broken in the following order: head-to-head results, highest net goal difference (maximum four goals per game), least goals against and most goals.

Each team will then play Saturday, with the seventh-, fifth- and third-place games scheduled before the championship game.

Forestview defeated Ashbrook 2-0 in last year’s championship, giving the Jaguars a record eight Gazette Cup titles. South Point has won the tournament seven times, and Ashbrook won the other two championships, as recently as 2008.

East Gaston beat South Point for third place last year. Hunter Huss needed overtime to take fifth place over Gaston Day, and Highland Tech defeated North Gaston for seventh place.

Daily admission is $4 for adults or $2 for children 12 and under. A tournament pass is available for $10. Kids under 5 are admitted free.

18th annual Gazette Area Soccer Cup

At Poston Park, Lowell

Aug. 23

Forestview vs. Hunter Huss, 6 p.m.

East Gaston vs. Highland Tech, 8 p.m.

Aug. 24

Ashbrook vs. Gaston Day, 6 p.m.

South Point vs. North Gaston, 8 p.m.

Aug. 25

Highland Tech vs. Forestview, 6 p.m.

Hunter Huss vs. East Gaston, 8 p.m.

Aug. 26

North Gaston vs. Ashbrook, 6 p.m.

Gaston Day vs. South Point, 8 p.m.

Aug. 27

Make-up day, if needed

Aug. 28

Seventh-place game, 10 a.m.

Fifth-place game, noon

Third-place game, 2 p.m.

Championship game, 4 p.m.

Gazette Cup championship appearances

School Appearances             Titles

Forestview             11             8

South Point            8              7

Ashbrook               14             2

Hunter Huss           1              0

Championship results

1993: South Point 4, Ashbrook 2

1994: South Point 1, Ashbrook 0

1995: South Point 4, Ashbrook 3

1996: South Point 3, Ashbrook 1

1997: South Point 2, Ashbrook 1

1998: South Point 4, Forestview 1

1999: Ashbrook 4, Forestview 3 (Ashbrook 4-3 on PKs)

2000: Forestview 3, Ashbrook 0

2001: Forestview 3, Hunter Huss 1

2002: Forestview 2, Ashbrook 1

2003: Forestview 5, Ashbrook 1

2004: Forestview 2, Ashbrook 0

2005: Forestview 2, Ashbrook 0

2006: Forestview 3, Ashbrook 0

2007: South Point 1, Forestview 0

2008: Ashbrook 1, South Point 0

2009: Forestview 2, Ashbrook 0

2009 results

Seventh-place game: Highland Tech 5, North Gaston 3

Fifth-place game: Hunter Huss 2, Gaston Day 1, OT

Third-place game: East Gaston 2, South Point 1

Championship: Forestview 2, Ashbrook 0