Varsity Soccer vs. Roanoke Valley Christian School

The Hargrave Varsity Soccer Team contined with strong conference play on Thursday with a 9-0 win over Roanoke Valley Christian to remain unbeaten in their division.

The starting five of the Hargrave midfield led the way for the Tigers as they combined to account for five of the nine goals, and eight of the ten assists recorded in the match. Captain Scott Dinius along with fellow midfielder Austin Newman would tally two goals each, while junior Mike Badolato would add three of his seven assists on the season. Midfield wingers Tony Cain and Captain Josh Splinter would each add two assists, but Cain would also contribute a goal to the scoreline. Meanwhile the Tiger’s forwards followed suit accounting for the remainder of the points led by senior Tumi Demuren and sophomore Dong Myung Eun who each finished with a goal and assist on the day.

The Tigers opend the scoring early on with a goal in eighth minute from Demuren as Eun and Badolato linked up for the helpers on the play. Four minutes later Newman would give the Tigers the 2-0 advantage with a strike from a corner kick that found its way to the top of the box. The 18 yard blast gave the keeper no chance for the save. Forward JD Skinner would tuck home the Tigers third of the match in the 21st minute with a first time strike from the back post from a Badolato cross. Two minutes before the half-time whistle Cain and Splinter would hook up for the Tigers fourth.

Once again the Tigers came out firing in the early going with continued pressure through the midfield and on into the attack. Five minutes into the second half Dinius was brought down in the box, and would convert on the ensuing penalty to extend a comfortable lead for the Tigers at 5-0. Four minutes later Eun would contribute his goal from a Cain cross to the back post. The cross found Demuren who headed the ball back across the face of the goal to the near post where Eun struck with a first time volley out of the air to give the Tiger’s their sixth.

Leading on into the 57th minute of play Newman and Splinter would catch the RVCS defense on the offsides trap with a perfectly slotted through ball from Splinter to find Newman making the run through from the midfield. Newman struck home the break away with a well-placed ball low and into the corner of the netting. Ten minutes later Dinius would strike for his second of the match off of Badolato’s third assist on the day. Badolato took the long throw-in sending it into the box and finding Dinius with a diving header just around the penalty marker. Then, six minutes before the closing whistle forward Seth Spears capped off the scoring for the Tigers by staying with a loose ball he originally won from a Heath Light cross. Spears second attempt at the opportunity gave the Tigers the 9-0 final tally. Along with Light, Cain was also credited with an assist on the play.

The Hargrave defense led by Captain Nate Anglin and anchored by Dinius, Adam Crook, and Cameron Giannini added their second clean sheet of the season with the victory. Goalkeepers Nathan Bloom and Brian Sigmon each also contributed with big saves on all of the RVCS opportunities. Bloom and Sigmon each recorded four well-earned saves to keep their opponent scoreless and share in the shut-out.

The Tigers will return to action Tuesday, September 26th when they take on Holy Cross. The Gaels of Holy Cross will prove to be a difficult opponent for the Tigers as they travel to Lynchburg for a 4:00 kick-off.

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