War Eagles Snap Skid with Authority (by John Reich)

soccer ball 75.gif After the Girls exciting soccer match and victory over Port St. Joe, the WHS Boys had a very tough act to follow. Not only did the Boys match the excitement, they did so by scoring eight goals surpassing their overall total of goals during the previous six matches. With Port St Joe knowing beforehand that Wakulla had won only one match to their one loss during their six matches, the confident Tiger Sharks entered the contest seeking a feeding frenzy upon the War Eagles.

Keeping the visitors on their heels, The energized War Eagles pressured the PSJ (3 - 2 - 2) defense often and early with five scoring opportunities
during the first four minutes of play.

Their hard work and renewed sense of teamwork and communication prevailed in the fourth minute as Rhett Harvey initiated a counterattack from his defensive position sending a ball back to midfield. Upon trapping the ball, John Lemon sent a diagonal ball into open space allowing Travis Harrell (assist) to run onto. Running along the far sideline, Harrell stopped and sent a high arching ball across the face of the goal towards the far post. Sneaking in from his position near the twelve yard area, an unmarked Wayne Murray met the ball near the face of the goal. With a solid strike of his head, the junior sent the ball past the stunned PSJ goalkeeper Chase Watford (14 Saves) and into the back of the net to give Wakulla the early 1 - 0 lead.

{sidebar id=1}With a fast break opportunity, the Tiger Sharks nearly tied the match during the fifteenth minute as Austin Burke sent a square ball towards his teammate Jared Arnold. With a one-touch strike of his boot, Arnold sent the paneling sphere sailing in the direction he had received the pass from and destined towards the upper ninety of the far post.

Originally caught out of position, Goalkeeper Matt Reich (60 Minutes - 2 saves) reacted well and tipped the ball safely over the crossbar.

Wakulla would strike pay dirt again in the 20th Minute as Matt Reich cleared a ball towards the center of the pitch. Josh Oliver won the ball at midfield and found teammate Travis Harrell along the sideline ready to make another run. With Wayne Murray making a diagonal run towards an unoccupied space along the sideline, Harrell sent the ball between several Shark defenders. Without losing a stride Murray sent the ball towards the top of the eighteen yard box finding Morgan Henry (assist) running alongside. Executing the perfect give and go, Henry returned the ball to his fellow junior classmate. Like a bull in a china shop, Murray ran towards goal sending a blistering low shot too hot for the keeper to handle and watched as the sphere slowly bounced over the rear touchline for the War Eagles and Murray’s second goal of the match.

The visiting Tiger Sharks would bring the match closer during the 26th Minute as Jared Arnold (assist) flicked the ball over the Wakulla defense. Parker Harris would place a perfect chip into the upper ninety of the far post over the onrushing Wakulla keeper. With the goal drawing PSJ closer, the momentum quickly changed towards the side of the visiting Tiger Sharks as their once silent fans got back into the match.

The boisterous crowd would be silenced a mere six minutes later as Jeffrey Bryan, Josh Oliver, Jacob Blume and other Wakulla players placed shots on frame methodically chipping away at the Tiger Shark defense.

From deep within the PSJ defense, Jeffrey Bryan (assist) would send a high cross over two defenders and the face of the goal finding Wakulla’s Travis Harrell. Pounding on the ball, Harrell unleashed a powerful blast sending the sphere into orbit and testing the strength of the nylon mesh inside the near post and rear of the goal.

Port St Joe was fortunate to escape the first half of action trailing by only two goals as Wakulla nearly took advantage of two additional set pieces
that missed their intended target by inches.

Port St Joe came out the second half determined to cut the Wakulla lead back to one goal. Daniel May sent a diagonal pass slicing through the War Eagles defense and onto the foot of PSJ’s leading scorer Parker Harris. Speeding straight towards goal, Harris discovered an onrushing Reich heading out from his line to cut off the angle.

Striking the ball earlier than planned, Parker’s screamer veered wide right of the post and safely over the touch line. The Wakulla defense would keep Port St Joe and their scoring machine limited to only one shot on frame during the first twenty minutes of the second half.

A hustling John Lemon (unassisted) would fairly out muscle an unsuspecting Tiger Shark defender and head towards the near post. Blasting a ball from ten yards out straight at the keeper, Watford could only deflect the ball. Following up his own shot, Lemon megged the keeper to give Wakulla a 4 - 1 lead in the 46th Minute.

Play would become quite physical after Wakulla’s fourth goal of the match. In previous years this aggressive play would have easily taken the War Eagles out of their rhythm. Today the hosts thrived upon the battle waged at midfield.

{sidebar id=1}With only one man to beat, Wakulla’s Wayne Murray was taken down in the box denying his efforts to record a hat-trick.

Liam Daniels would take the penalty kick from twelve yards out and confidently place the ball into the rear netting to give the War Eagles a 5 - 1 advantage during the 50th Minute.

With a solid four goal lead and momentum heavily on their side, Coach Bob Wallace was awarded the luxury of freely substituting his starters in anticipation of two key district matches the following week.

Moments later Wakulla would notch yet an additional goal. Originating from a defensive position, a series of consecutive passes between Brandon Maloy, Wayne Murray, Liam Daniels, Will Harvey (assist) and a diagonal ball into space, would free Tyler Horner. Like an artist painting a masterpiece, Horner placed the ball inside the near post with one confident and final stroke.

Making additional substitutions and position changes, backup Goalkeeper Tony Castellano (20 Minutes - 2 Saves) entered the match for Wakulla during the 60th Minute.

The War Eagles would pad their lead during the 63rd Minute as Liam Daniels (assist) placed a through ball for Gage Martin. Running straight towards goal, Martin quickly released a shot from fifteen yards out past the frustrated keeper for Wakulla’s seventh goal of the match.

PSJ Senior Parker Harris (unassisted) would score his second goal of the match after beating the keeper and simply placing the ball inside the far post. Castellano would quickly recover and make a pair of good saves throughout the remainder of the match.

Will Harvey (assist) would record his second assist of the evening during the final five minutes of play. Shaking off a Tiger Shark defender, Harvey sent a square ball across the pitch towards his Wakulla teammate streaking towards goal near the far post. Having cut his nails before the match, the pass glanced off the outstretched fingertips of the diving PSJ goalkeeper. Gage Martin placed the ball into the rear netting for his second goal of the match and close out the contest as Wakulla prevailed 8 - 2.

A total of nine players notched either a goal and/or an assist showing the most teamwork to date.

With the win, the War Eagles improved their record to 2 - 5 - 0 and travel to face East Gadsden (5 - 1 - 0 ) on Tuesday and Panama City Bay (Fri) for two district contests.

J Reich
DAD_316@yahoo.com

This article originally published on December 2, 2008.

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