Trojans tame Wildcats, 4-1
Aug. 16, 2015 @ 01:13 AM
Michael Lindsay HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Cooper Robbins, amid his teammates, celebrates with John Caldwell (11), Drew Glover (16) and Benji Omungu (10) after scoring a goal as Westchester Country Day's Tommy Boggis (7) and Jonathan Bethel (22) look on during Saturday's Westchester Invitational championship at Kennedy Field.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Westchester Country Day's Jonathan Bethel, right, heads the ball as Wesleyan Christian's Grant Edwards defends during Saturday's Westchester Invitationa championship at Kennedy Field.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian goalkeeper Michael Buckland makes a save against Westchester Country Day during Saturday's Westchester Invitational championship at Kennedy Field.
HIGH POINT —
The Wesleyan Christian boys soccer team pulled away in a hurry once it established its game.
The Trojans, ranked No. 3 nationally, scored three times in the second half to break from Westchester Country Day, which played well for significant stretches, and won the Westchester Invitational championship, 4-1, on Saturday at Kennedy Field.
Click here for more photos from Saturday's game.
“I thought we played well against a spirited, competitive and well-organized Westchester side,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I was very impressed with how they made things difficult for us for an entire 80 minutes. ...
“We refused to compromise the integrity of our style in the second half. Whereas, in the first half, we would get into the final third and settle. We didn’t really do what we do. And in the second half we were much more adept at that.”
Cooper Robbins had two goals and one assist to lead the Trojans (2-0), the reigning NCISAA 3A state champions. Luke Manring and Benji Omungu also scored a goal apiece, while Drew Glover and Caleb Compton each had an assist.
Holding a 1-0 lead into halftime after Manring converted a penalty kick, Wesleyan scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the second half, then grabbed a commanding 4-0 lead with five minutes remaining.
Omungu scored 50 seconds into the half off a nice pass by Robbins into the box. And then Robbins scored twice off headers – assisted by Glover with 21:10 left and then Compton with 5:10 remaining – to lead 4-0.
“We played our style,” said Robbins, a senior. “We moved the ball around to pull them apart, and then we shoved it down the middle. It was fantastic to see the stuff we practice all the time – set pieces we train a lot on – actually work. ...
“It’s coming along well,” he said of the season. “At the beginning, we were kind of inconsistent, coming off our alumni game and into our first scrimmage. But, coming off this tournament, it’s better to see how it’s coming together.”
Tommy Boggis scored on a header off a corner kick by Dylan Sellers with 2:45 left for the Wildcats (1-1), who did well to disrupt Wesleyan defensively in the first half and create chances offensively throughout.
“We try to get better every day,” Westchester coach Adam Schwartz said. “Even though we lost 4-1, I think we got better today. And people stepped up and showed me some stuff. Now, we turn around and have a big 2A game Tuesday.
“So, we have to be ready and turn the page, have a good practice Monday. … We executed the game plan really well in the first half. We played how we wanted to play, played hard – especially after playing last night. And what I love is that we never quit.”
Michael Buckland made four saves in goal for the Trojans, who host Western Guilford in the Sanford Classic on Friday. Will Argo made five saves for the Wildcats, who host Davidson Day on Tuesday.
Aug. 16, 2015 @ 01:13 AM
Michael Lindsay HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Cooper Robbins, amid his teammates, celebrates with John Caldwell (11), Drew Glover (16) and Benji Omungu (10) after scoring a goal as Westchester Country Day's Tommy Boggis (7) and Jonathan Bethel (22) look on during Saturday's Westchester Invitational championship at Kennedy Field.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Westchester Country Day's Jonathan Bethel, right, heads the ball as Wesleyan Christian's Grant Edwards defends during Saturday's Westchester Invitationa championship at Kennedy Field.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian goalkeeper Michael Buckland makes a save against Westchester Country Day during Saturday's Westchester Invitational championship at Kennedy Field.
HIGH POINT —
The Wesleyan Christian boys soccer team pulled away in a hurry once it established its game.
The Trojans, ranked No. 3 nationally, scored three times in the second half to break from Westchester Country Day, which played well for significant stretches, and won the Westchester Invitational championship, 4-1, on Saturday at Kennedy Field.
Click here for more photos from Saturday's game.
“I thought we played well against a spirited, competitive and well-organized Westchester side,” Wesleyan coach Scott Reitnour said. “I was very impressed with how they made things difficult for us for an entire 80 minutes. ...
“We refused to compromise the integrity of our style in the second half. Whereas, in the first half, we would get into the final third and settle. We didn’t really do what we do. And in the second half we were much more adept at that.”
Cooper Robbins had two goals and one assist to lead the Trojans (2-0), the reigning NCISAA 3A state champions. Luke Manring and Benji Omungu also scored a goal apiece, while Drew Glover and Caleb Compton each had an assist.
Holding a 1-0 lead into halftime after Manring converted a penalty kick, Wesleyan scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the second half, then grabbed a commanding 4-0 lead with five minutes remaining.
Omungu scored 50 seconds into the half off a nice pass by Robbins into the box. And then Robbins scored twice off headers – assisted by Glover with 21:10 left and then Compton with 5:10 remaining – to lead 4-0.
“We played our style,” said Robbins, a senior. “We moved the ball around to pull them apart, and then we shoved it down the middle. It was fantastic to see the stuff we practice all the time – set pieces we train a lot on – actually work. ...
“It’s coming along well,” he said of the season. “At the beginning, we were kind of inconsistent, coming off our alumni game and into our first scrimmage. But, coming off this tournament, it’s better to see how it’s coming together.”
Tommy Boggis scored on a header off a corner kick by Dylan Sellers with 2:45 left for the Wildcats (1-1), who did well to disrupt Wesleyan defensively in the first half and create chances offensively throughout.
“We try to get better every day,” Westchester coach Adam Schwartz said. “Even though we lost 4-1, I think we got better today. And people stepped up and showed me some stuff. Now, we turn around and have a big 2A game Tuesday.
“So, we have to be ready and turn the page, have a good practice Monday. … We executed the game plan really well in the first half. We played how we wanted to play, played hard – especially after playing last night. And what I love is that we never quit.”
Michael Buckland made four saves in goal for the Trojans, who host Western Guilford in the Sanford Classic on Friday. Will Argo made five saves for the Wildcats, who host Davidson Day on Tuesday.
