From Staff Reports
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The Midland Trail boys soccer team upped its record to 4-1 Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Independence at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley. The victory was the fourth straight for the Patriots and was their third straight shutout.
Senior midfielder BJ Beaver and senior striker Tyler Skaggs scored unassisted first-half goals for the Patriots. The goal for Beaver was his first on the season, while Skaggs now has a team-leading five scores. Junior goalkeeper Rickie Carter was relatively untested, recording just three saves for the contest.
“The bulk of our schedule lies ahead of us, but I am extremely pleased with the progress this team has made,” said coach Dave Pollard. “We came into the year having to re-shape almost our entire backline, so I was concerned about our ability to keep opponents from scoring. With just one returning starter from the defense we have relied on a first-year sophomore and two players we converted from other positions from last year. The top sub on the backline is a freshman.
“We know we will be facing better attacks as the season wears on, but three consecutive shutouts speaks well for these kids.”
Trail returns to the pitch with three consecutive home contests Sept. 4-6, facing Independence, Mingo Central and Shady Spring.
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In earlier contests, the Patriots chalked up victories in three of their first four games. After dropping a 4-1 decision at Bluefield in their opening contest, Midland Trail stormed back with home victories over Scott, Pendleton County and Mercer Christian Academy.
In the Bluefield game, the Patriots matched paces with the Beavers and were tied 1-1 in the game’s 65th minute. Bluefield, with a roster which includes 13 seniors, wore the young Patriots down in the final 15 minutes on its way to the victory. Sophomore midfielder Nikolas Brewer notched the only Trail goal on a penalty kick. The Beavers outshot Trail 22-6. Trail keeper Rickie Carter notched 11 saves.
Playing at home against Scott, Trail picked up the offensive pace, scoring seven times in a 7-2 victory. Senior captain Tyler Skaggs picked up a three-goal hat trick to lead the Patriot attack. He was joined in the scoring column by senior Dallas Lesher, who scored twice, Brewer, and freshman Eric Chappell. Brewer assisted on one of the Skaggs goals, while senior Brandon Belcher picked up an assist on Brewer’s tally and freshman Jared Morris assisted on Chappell’s goal. Trail outshot Scott 13-11, with Carter picking up seven saves.
Trail controlled possession for nearly the entire game against Pendleton County, but had a hard time finding the net in a 2-0 victory. Chappell and Brewer netted the Trail goals, while Carter was rarely challenged in goal, recording just one save. The Patriots outshot Pendleton 32-9.
Finishing out the week against Mercer Christian, the Patriots notched a second consecutive shutout in a 3-0 victory. Skaggs scored off an assist from sophomore sweeper Austin Beaver, while Lesher scored his third goal in his inaugural season of play. The third goal was an own-goal off of a Mercer Christian defender. The Patriots outshot their opponents 14-7, with Carter getting six saves.
“We are young and lacking in depth but I am thrilled with the progress this team is making. We have had two assists from the back line, one by a freshman and one by a sophomore who played in the midfield last year. This shows that they are picking up how to play the game and how to create pressure from the back,” Pollard said.
In other recent games:
Midland Trail 6 Bluefield 0
Summer Whipkey and Hannah Legg scored two goals apiece as the Midland Trail girls dominated Bluefield.
Kristen Fitzwater and Mindy Sevy also scored for the Patriots, who outshot the Beavers 28-8. Marissa Workman, Legg and Heather Ingram all had assists.
Savannah Skaggs, Jill Grey and Ciara Reyna combined in goal for eight saves.
Trail (3-0) visits Oak Hill at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Greenbrier East 2 Oak Hill 0
Owen Browning scored two goals to lead the Spartans past the Red Devil boys Monday.
Jacob Baker recorded one assist and Browning scored one goal unassisted for Greenbrier East (3-0-1).
Spartan goalkeeper Mac Brackenrich recorded five saves in the shutout.
