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Warriors win sectional opener on muddy pitch

Photo by Dominic Catacora Warren’s Matt Goodman (16) tries to maneuver the ball around Portsmouth West defenders Ethan Marasek (4) and Caleb Hazelbaker (14) during a sectional soccer match Monday in Vincent.

VINCENT — The Warren Warriors left their damp and muddy home pitch Monday evening with an 11-0 score on the board against Portsmouth West.

With the victory, Warren advanced in the Division II sectional tournament. It will play again at 5 p.m. Thursday against second-seeded Jackson.

The Warriors’ ability to create options for each other in the midfield and on the attack was seen when the first goal of the match was taken. Senior midfielder Matt Goodman was able to strike the ball with pace from a far out distance and the ball found its way to the back of the net to make the score 1-0 in the first half.

“I just had a lot of space and shot it,” said Goodman. “It was not fun playing in these conditions because we would try and dribble but just lose the ball, but we got a win so that’s good.”

Goodman would tally another goal for himself but not before junior Ethan Yost scored three straight goals for a hat trick in the first half. The two players would tally the score 5-0 before others on the Warriors’ side added their mark.

“I had the openings and took my chance,” said Yost. “We played on it (the field) last Thursday so we were used to it.”

The attacking pressure never let up from the Warriors’ side. Junior midfielder Nathan Ritchie was able to create an opportunity for himself within Portsmouth’s side and knocked one into the goal to make it 6-0.

The last goal in the first half came from sophomore midfielder Alex Modesitt who was able to tap one in to make it 7-0 before the whistle was blown.

“This game wasn’t too much of a challenge for us. The field was bad but I wish the game was closer so we can be tested a little more,” said head coach Ekrem Eksi. “The Jackson game is going to be a tough game but we’re going to be ready to play.”

The second half saw four more goals from the Warriors’ side and a change to the Portsmouth West keepers box. Portsmouth switched out their starting keeper for Noah Nichols, who ended up having a big game on the back end with five saves on the night.

Midfielder Derek McAfee would open up the scoring in the second making the score 8-0. Then Warren defender Joel Chevalier was able to push up from defense and take his own strike on goal to make it 9-0. Junior Tommy Wussick was able to get a second-half goal of his own and then in the last minute of the match Brayden Hurley was able to put one in the back of the net to make the final tally 11-0.

“We are a young team and we started with six straight losses,” said Eksi. “We knew we were going to get better and I think we are in the right direction. It’s going to be a challenge against Jackson but we are ready.”

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