Hargrave 4 – Timberlake 0
Senior forward Tumi Demuren led the way for the Tigers with his second consecutive game scoring two goals as the Tigers went on to win 4-0 over Timberlake Christian. All four goals came in the second half for the Tigers as the away side got off to a slow and lackluster performance during the first 40 minutes. The Tigers entered the first half with a few scoring threats including a headed ball off the post from forward Nick Barr, but seemed to show signs of frustration as the first half came to a close with the score still notched at 0-0. The home side threatened with a pair of scoring opportunities themselves at the closure of the first half, but were also unable to find the mark pushing the ball just wide of the goal. The Tigers would finish with five shots in the half while giving up three to their opponent.
Entering the second half of play the Tigers immediately looked like a new team on the field. With a couple of adjustments and a renewed offensive pressure the Tigers soon wore down the home team forcing defensive mistakes, and creating constant scoring opportunities. Nine minutes into the second half Demuren would add his first goal of the match with his second coming just four minutes later. Demuren’s first came after a corner kick where the ball found its way cleared out to around the top of the box. Senior defender Adam Crook, who had been moved to a defensive midfield position, knocked a first-time hit back in towards the goal mouth. Crook’s ball found Senior left wing Tony Cain around the six who sent a one-touch pass to the opposite post where Demuren redirected the pass into the goal for the 1-0 advantage. Demuren added his second goal shortly after due to aggressive pressure on the Timberlake defense. With the added pressure of forward Nick Barr, Demuren was able to steal the ball away, push the ball past the last defender, and leave himself with a one-on-one opportunity with the Timberlake goalkeeper sliding the shot into the back of the net to give the Tigers the 2-0 advantage and the momentum that the Tigers were searching for since the opening play of the first half.
With the momentum well in hand, and most of the play staying in the Tiger’s offensive end everything seemed to be well in-hand for the away team. Although, Timberlake was given a chance to draw one back as the referee awarded a very questionable penalty after the ball had been cleared out of the penalty area seconds before. Despite the ball being well away from the course of play a foul was called due to a late push in box that appeared to be a light scuffle between goalkeeper Nathan Bloom and a Timberlake attacker. Although, the Tigers remained unscored upon as the ensuing penalty was missed wide of the goal.
With eight minutes remaining the Tigers were able to cap off a reassuring goal. Forward Nick Barr continued his scoring streak to three straight games with a break away goal of his own in the 72nd minute of play. Junior Aaron Snell was credited with the assist from a defensive position as he sent a first-time long ball back into the Timberlake defensive third. Snell’s ball found Barr sending him in on another one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper where Barr finished giving the Tigers the 3-0 lead. Sophomore midfielder Kenny Mattimore would top off the scoring for the Tigers with less than two minutes to play with a blast of his own from 20 yards out after collecting a headed on pass from freshman Jin Suk Seo to give the Tigers the 4-0 win.
Constant offensive pressure on the Timberlake defense and strong defensive play from the Tiger’s back line and midfield proved to be the second half turnaround for the Tigers. The Tigers would finish the second half with 13 shots compared to its five in the first while only giving up one shot to their opponent in the second. The one shot came from the Timberlake penalty kick. Sweeper Austin Hirschfield was nearly unbeatable in the back for the Tigers, and with the addtion of Snell was added even more of an aggressive and quick defensive stand for the Tigers. Along with the Tiger’s superb defensive play the continuous pressure in the midfield from Crook, Mattimore, Cain, and captains Josh Splinter and Scott Dinius made it nearly impossible for their opponent to have any offensive flow during the second half.
With the win the Tigers move to 3-0 overall, 3-0 in conference, and will return to action on Friday, March 23 with home, non-conference match-up against Bluestone.
