Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The Madisonville-North Hopkins boys soccer team showed flashes of brilliance and also times of mental error during Tuesday evening’s 6-4 win over Warren Central, but one thing that was constant was the great play of its freshman.
Zach Yonts and Jake Hutchens each had a goal in the first half while Yonts collected an assist in the second half to help spur the Maroons (12-3-1) to yet another win.
“I was real pleased with how our freshman performed — Yonts and Hutchens,” coach John Tichenor said. “They came in and gave us a lift.”
The game began nearly an hour earlier than scheduled as rain moved toward the area, threatening to cancel the contest.
The Dragons (8-8-0) struck first, scoring 17 minutes into the game.
Neither team scored for the next 11 minutes, but then North began a flurry of goals, started by senior Corey Ashby.
“I think we came out a little slow,” Ashby said. “We didn’t have a lot of time to warm up so we weren’t really prepared, but once we finally got our tempo going we finally just did what we do and scored really easy and fast.”
Ashby evened the game after he converted on a shot deflection with 12:02 left in the half.
Two minutes later, Yonts scored on a header off a corner kick by Miles Durham to give the Maroons a 2-1 advantage.
In a nearly identical play, Hutchens also scored on a header from a Durham corner kick with 6:07 to go before the break.
“Miles played a good ball to me,” Hutchens said. “I just saw it coming to me and knew I had to put it in.”
Durham, who collected assists on each of North’s first three goals, then made a goal of his own with just under four minutes to play, assisted by Micah Crowell. North appeared en route to take a commanding lead when Crowell then scored a minute later and the Maroons led 5-1 at halftime.
Although North played well in the first half, the team could not carry the momentum to the final 40 minutes.
Warren Central and North each traded a goal in the first 20 minutes of the final half, with Robbie Hatchett scoring on a pass from Yonts to make it a 6-2 game.
Dragon Erodger Bargblor Jr. exhibited his speed to cut the deficit in half though in the game’s final 10 minutes. Bargblor scored twice in a 50-second span to pull within two goals.
The goals provided a wake-up call to the Maroons, who buckled down and did not allow another goal.
Despite the victory, Tichenor said he was concerned with the way some of his veterans played as the team approaches the district tournament next week
“How we played the second half was unacceptable,” Tichenor said. “We were not focused. We turned the ball over. We made mental mistakes and we let them back in the game. It’s too late in the season to be making those mistakes.”
Ashby focused on the positives, however, noting the balanced offensive attack without leading-scorer Rush Dugger, who missed the game with a leg injury.
“It shows that we have a little bit of performance in our bench,” Ashby said. “I feel like we have every body where we need to be honestly...I think that we have a formidable team that is just a powerhouse in this region.”
Tichenor said Dugger’s status is “day-by-day,” but said in the mean time it may help other team members get prepared for next week.
“It gives guys more minutes and more opportunities,” he said.
By game’s end North outshot the Dragons 14-7 and goalkeeper JD Lester finished with two saves.
In a shortened junior varsity game, North defeated Warren Central 2-1. Yonts and Ethan Crowell collected the lone goals for the Maroons.
North returns to action 7 p.m. Thursday for Senior Night when the Maroons play host to Franklin-Simpson.
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