JV falls to Wichita in Nationals opener

Match time:  Friday 10/21/16  2:15 PM
Opponent:  Wichita Warriors
Location:  Cooper Sports Complex #7, Springfield MO
Conditions: Sunny and cool

HSAA JV:  2
Wichita:  5

The JV Angels opened up pool play at the 2016 Nationals tournament with a 5-2 loss to the Wichita Warriors.  Wichita had already beaten the other team in the pool and will advance to the 6A bracket.

The Wichita offense opened up strong, pressing a hard-working HSAA defense.  Center defender Aaron Thorne set the hustling tone for the back line and GK Matthew Welch held them off until halfway through the first half, when Wichita scored 2 quick goals on a breakaway and a cross to a backdoor attacker.

Wichita added two more goals, one on a screamer by Wichta's strong midfield player, #11.  His rocket to the upper 90 barely made it past the keeper, and the Warriors lead 4-0 until just before the half-time whistle, when HSAA netted their first goal on a corner, on a one-touch by Jacob Sustela, who put the ball in the net while being knocked to the ground by a Wichita defender.

The match was much closer in the 2nd half, as the HSAA defense adjusted.  They were especially good at taking #11 out of play, although he did get off another rocket that GK Matthew Welch knocked over the crossbar to save a goal.

Wichita scored another to make it 5-1; Joshua Glass then scored on a long inbound cross to give HSAA its second goal.


Special shout-out for play that might not show up in the stat sheet:
Aaron Thorne, Jordan Cue


Stats:
Total Shots: 4
Shots on Goal: 3
Corners taken:  3
Saves:  7
Goals allowed:  5
Goals: 2
    Jacob Sustala
    Joshua Glass