MHS soccer rebounds with win over Mathews
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| Middlesex varsity soccer center/halfback Carlos Gonzalez (#2) battles a Mathews player for possession in the 3-2 Chargers’ win last Friday. Gonzalez later scored for Middlesex. In background, Middlesex’s Joe Banks prepares to defend. (Photo by Tom Chillemi) |
The Middlesex High varsity soccer team is now 2-3 in Tidewater District play and 5-6-1 overall after defeating Mathews 3-2 on Friday.
The win comes on the heels of two district losses—a 5-0 loss to Mathews and 4-1 loss to King William. Owen Holt scored the Charger goal against King William.
“The kids played strong games, but the other teams wanted the wins a little more than we did,” said Middlesex coach Scott Rae.
Mathews 2
On Friday, the visiting Blue Devils earned a solid goal in the first 90 seconds, and scored again on a fluke defensive error when the Charger goalie errantly handled a Charger pass, which gave the Blue Devils an indirect free kick. The Devils immediately set up and scored again for a 2-0 lead in the first 4 minutes of the match.
The Chargers regained their composure and 6 minutes later started a 3-goal streak in a span of 5 minutes.
Holt started the scoring on a solo run. The next goal was a throw-in from Ryheem Lockley finished by Carlos Gonzalez. The final goal from Holt was scored on a Mathews goalie bobble off a shot by Lockley.
“These players capitalized on the time spent at practice,” said Rae. “Ryheem has both the field presence and throw-in ability, both which he maximized during this game. As a first-year player he has learned the game quickly and was instrumental in the last two goals. We learned in this game that an assist or two from Ryheem is as good as putting the ball in the net.”
The Middlesex defense stepped up its play as well. John Shaw, Michael Kiku, Stanley Redmon, Joe Banks, Darrien Fisher, Erick Sosa and Justin Smith continued to work well together, supporting Charger goalie Tommy Norman, said Rae.
“With only two substitutes during the Mathews game on a warmer-than-usual evening, our players were rationing their running and maximizing their field positioning,” he said.
“Our ‘rebuilding’ years may very well come to fruition next year,” said Rae. Coach DiFulvio’s JV soccer program has done well this year, and the soccer program is looking promising.”
The Chargers play at West Point today, Thursday, May 20, in a 7 p.m. make-up game that was rained out on Monday. A win for the Chargers against West Point would give Middlesex third place in the Tidewater District. If this happens, MHS would play Mathews in the district tournament on Monday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at West Point. A loss to West Point today would place Middlesex in fourth against top-seeded King William in a 5 p.m. tournament game at West Point on May 24.
