Hargrave 5 – Faith Christian 1
The Tigers finished the regular season with a well-earned 5-1 win over Faith Christian on Monday to move to a 12-1-1 record heading into the VIC Conference Playoffs.
Throughout the first half of play the Tigers created several great scoring opportunities specifically from their wing play with numerous dangerous crosses in front of the Faith Christian goal. Although, despite seven shots and several great crosses that simply needed a slight touch for redirection the Tigers were unable to find the back of the net in the first half. The Tigers, though, found themselves down at the half after a 23rd minute goal from Faith Christian on their first shot of the game, and trailing at the half for only the second time this season.
Though, to begin the second half the Tigers would not be denied the goals they so nearly equalized upon in the first half of play. With little over a minute gone in the second half senior left wing Tony Cain would draw the Tigers even from a Josh Splinter corner with a headed shot from the back side of the six yard box and into the upper left corner of the goal. Sophomore forward Edwin Choi would follow with a goal of his own two minutes later to give the Tigers the lead. The Choi goal was set-up as he had his back to the goal from the right side of the 18 yard box, but then turned on his defender with the ball, and hit a perfectly struck ball to the opposite corner to beat the Faith keeper. Then just over three minutes later junior Captain Scott Dinius gave the Tigers their third with a blast of his own from nearly the top of the 18 yard box.
With the lead regained at 3-1, and the course of the game well in-hand the Tigers were able to shut down their opponent on the offensive end with continuous pressure in the midfield, and superb one-on-one defending from junior Austin Hirschfield and senior Adam Crook. Hirschfield and Crook were able to hold Faith’s most dangerous players at the forward positions to very little touches, but were also supported superbly from sweeper Nate Anglin and midfield play from Charles Field, Scott Dinius, Kenny Mattimore, Josh Splinter, Austin Koeneman, Tony Cain, and Austin Newman. The Tiger goal was threatened on only more occasion during the second half from a Faith corner which was met directly on with a headed shot to the goal, yet goalkeeper Nathan Bloom was there with a superb reaction save to push the ball wide and maintain the 3-1 lead for the Tigers.
With 15 minutes remaining junior midfielders Austin Newman and Charles Field linked up as Newman extended the Tiger’s lead with a perfectly hit blast from 20 yards out low and into the right corner of the Faith goal. Senior Captain Nick Barr capped off the Tiger’s fifth three minutes later with a break-away goal as he was able to collect a Dinius long-ball, maintain great control of the pass with defenders on his back, and slot his 19th goal of season in behind the Faith keeper.
With the win the Tigers end their regular season schedule and now prepare for the VIC playoffs as they will host Timberlake Chrisitian on Thursday, May 10.
