The Hargrave Varsity Soccer Team (6-3-1 overall, 5-3-1 conference) improved upon their record, on Tuesday, with a win against Westover Christian by a score of 5-1.
The Tigers came out immediately, putting pressure on the Westover defense. In the second minute of play the Tigers put themselves on the scoreboard, 1-0. Freshman Nathan LeNoir (1G) scored when he hit the ball first-time off of a Alnor Rodriguez cross (1A).
The Tigers then found the net again, with 17 minutes left in the half, due to the hard-work of Midfielder Josh Splinter. Splinter received the ball on the wing, and after hustling past his defender was fouled from behind inside the box. The insuing penalty kick was put away with ease by Captain Chris Martelli (2G), giving the Tigers the 2-0 lead.
Before the half would end, though, Westover surprised the Hargrave defense with a goal of their own with three minutes remaining. The goal would end the half, 2-1.
In the second, the Tigers once again came out and put pressure on Westover. Through the first 18 minutes of the second half, though, opportunities eluded the Tigers who were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.
Then, with 22 minutes remaining in the game, newcomer Jacob Morrison (2G) added the third goal for the Tigers. Morrison drove towards the Westover net, but before being allowed to release a shot was fouled inside the box, and awarded a penalty kick. Morrison tucked the penalty shot away, and gave the Tigers the 3-1 lead. Four minutes later, Morrison would add his second goal off of a Josh Splinter (1A) cross. Splinter sent the ball sailing in towards the near post, and right onto the incoming stride of Morrison who found himself open in front of the net. Morrison put the ball away with ease, and gave the Tigers the 4-1 lead.
Chris Martelli, scoring his second goal of the match, would add the fifth and final goal for the Tigers with three minutes remaining in the game. Martelli drove forward with the ball out of the back, and went half a field length, beating the Westover defense, and blistering a shot into the back of the net from 18 yards out.
Another superb defensive effort put forth by Dee Okunowo, John Yu, Nick Wynne, William Tolan, Joseph Shea, and Captains Chris Martelli and Charles Amos held the Westover attack to only 5 shots. Goalkeeper Garret Torney made 2 saves in the match in 60 minutes of action. Goalkeeper Nathan Bloom, while seeing 20 minutes in the net, made three saves, including the save on a penalty kick.
The Tiger midfield of Alnor Rodriguez, Austin Newman, Josh Splinter, and Nathan LeNoir were able to maintain ball possession throughout the majority of the match. Their effort in the midfield was intricate in controlling the pace of the game, and putting pressure on the Westover defense.
Hargrave Varsity Soccer will host Carlisle School on Thursday, October 14 for their next scheduled conference match-up. Kick-off time is 4pm.
