Boys Soccer Drops Two District Matches

by John Reich

With starters Jeffrey Bryan, Liam Daniels, Travis Harrell, Brandon Maloy, Josh Oliver and Matt Reich all benched for disciplinary reasons, the match with East Gadsden (6 - 1 - 0 overall and 3 - 1 - 0 district) took upon a different flavor as the Jaguars ground the War Eagles into nuggets with relative ease.

It took but three minutes for East Gadsden to erase the oval upon the scoreboard. After a deflection along the far post, Willie Molena (unassisted) broke through the defense and raced towards near post. Before the goalkeeper could recover and close down the angle, Molena’s blast had already sailed inside the near post and back into the mesh.

{sidebar id=1}Ten minutes later, Molena (assist) would place a perfect ball into space for Victor Ramirez to run onto without breaking his stride. Finding an open angle not covered by the keeper, Ramirez placed his shot perfectly between the keeper and post as Wakulla trailed 2 - 0.

The War Eagles would respond on a set piece in the 17th Minute as Austin Lentz sent a ball from forty yards out into the busy box. East Gadsden Goalkeeper Ernesto Quintanillo (7 Saves) rushed from his line to greet the ball but could only tip it. Morgan Henry (assist) would recover the sphere and make a square pass allowing Gage Martin to paste the ball inside the near post.

For the remainder of the half, the War Eagles dodged bullets as the Jaguars made numerous lightning strike counters with players from their respective midfield and defensive positions. The War Eagles nearly tied the match in the 39th Minute as Austin Lentz sent a through ball to Morgan Henry. With a nifty move Henry had beaten the keeper but watched as his shot went right of his intended target. It was that kind of a night for the War Eagles.

East Gadsden would notch their third goal of the match just two minutes into the second half on a perfect give and go between Francisco Nieto and Willie Molena (assist). From a difficult angle, Molena would send a screaming shot towards goal. Wakulla keeper Tony Castellano (4 Saves) was unable to collect the ball as Jose Reyes took advantage of the early Christmas present.

Wakulla nearly closed the match to one goal as Austin Lentz sent a powerful shot towards goal. Crashing against the upper woodwork and rebounding back into play, Wayne Murray one touched the ball missing wide right by inches. Willie Molena continued to be a thorn in the backside collecting a goal and three assists. During the 75th Minute, Molena (assist) sent a through ball onto teammate Ramiro Orosco. With the Wakulla keeper out of position, Orosco sent a well-placed soft touched shot into the rear of the net.

With the sound of the final whistle, East Gadsden had beaten Wakulla 4 - 1 and remain in the hunt for the top seeding within the district.

Panama City Bay 2; Wakulla War Eagles 0

Seeking to avenge their earlier 5 - 1 loss (Nov 18th) and despite the final outcome, Wakulla held their own against one of the two remaining unbeaten district teams. With thirteen of Bay’s twenty three shots, speedster Corey Newsome wreaked total havoc upon the War Eagles yet failed to score due to the fast recovery of Jacob Blume, Jeffrey Bryan, Rhett Harvey, Brandon Maloy, and Goalkeeper Matt Reich (12 Saves).

Wakulla nearly took the lead in the 18th Minute as Morgan Henry sent the ball from a thirty yard set piece into the crowded box destined for a goal. Mere seconds before a Wakulla player could take advantage, an onrushing Patrick Reed (4 Saves) wisely punched the ball out from danger. This would be the only shot on frame for the War Eagles during the entire first half.

During the 26th Minute, the War Eagles nearly broke the scoreless match as Tyler Horner sent a square pass to Morgan Henry. Reacting to the ball, Wayne Murray broke through the stingy Bay defense upon receiving a diagonal pass. Murray’s shot would sail just high.

Corey Newsome would initiate a goal scoring opportunity for Bay in the 27th Minute, passing the ball back towards teammate Jackson Craft. Having continued his run towards the center of the eighteen, Craft sent a cross towards Newsome creating a fast break situation. Having cut off the angle, Reich made a diving foot save denying the goal. The match would enter intermission as it had started - scoreless.

{sidebar id=1}The Tornadoes came out the second half with a sense of urgency in wanting to score the first goal of the match. From a set piece twenty-five yards from goal, Corey Newsome would send a knuckling blast headed right under the crossbar. Initially screened, Reich reacted quickly and tipped the ball as it hit the woodwork squarely but bounced back into play. Two additional shots on frame followed only for Reich to save them by slapping the sphere against the crossbar.

A well placed blast caught the goalkeeper squarely in the chest. Unable to gather the cannon blast, Reich collected and fell upon the fifth shot finally ending the barrage and drawing applause from both benches and fans.

Not having shaken the previous barrage, Bay took advantage of the weakened defense had stopped play seeking an offside call. Jackson Craft (assist) took advantage of the defensive blunder and sent a wide diagonal cross towards the far post. Without any defensive presence and facing a two on one situation, Hugh Higgins would place the ball within the side netting for the first goal of the match.

The War Eagles nearly tied the match during the 70th Minute with a series of give and goes between Austin Lentz, Gage Martin and Wayne Murray. A Bay defender would step up and take possession of the ball but make a weak clearance allowing Morgan Henry to take a crack at goal. Although having beaten the unsuspecting keeper, Henry’s shot would miss the upper ninety and sail out of play.

Bay would respond and close out the scoring on a quick counter with a splendid give and go between Hugh Higgins and Blake Bauer (assist) sending Higgins directly towards the center of the box. With the defense caught flat-footed, Higgins placed the ball within the far post.

With the loss the War Eagles fall to 2 - 7 - 0 and 1 - 4 - 0 in district, while Bay remains unbeaten in district play at 3 - 0 - 1.

This article originally published on December 9, 2008.

Click here to discuss this topic in our Online Discussion Forums.

Per Wakulla.com policy, all reader comments (submitted below) must include a valid first and last name.