Back on track

STOVER — The Smithton Tigers secured their second straight shutout Saturday and defeated Stover 5-0  to win the Kaysinger Conference soccer tournament.

“This was fun,” Smithton coach Dave Holiway said. “We’ve been second three years in a row. Coming in as the fourth seed, this win shows we’ve made some leaps and bounds from the start of the year.”

Smithton began the season 1-4 but has won seven straight since.

Adam Wagenknecht put the Tigers on the board early and was the driving force behind their victory.

Just a few minutes into the match, Wagenknecht was fouled in the goal box where he converted the penalty kick to give Smithton a 1-0 lead.

“In that type of game, the score has the potential to be close,” Holiway said. “We get that first one and we’re able to set the tempo for the game and play aggressively.

“If they get that first goal, they could have controlled the game and we would have been looking at a different score.”

Wagenknecht expanded the lead to 2-0 in the 13th minute. Smithton’s offense was camped near Stover’s goal, continuing to apply the pressure as Stover couldn’t get the ball past midfield to stop the threat.

Spencer Howell gave Smithton a 3-0 lead in the 17th minute.

Howell set up the next goal with a cross to Marria Gorga that stretched the lead to 4-0 heading to halftime.

Stover came out firing in the second half. Brandon Folsom set up his offense with perfect passes in the box for point-blank shots, but Stover couldn’t capitalize.

Folsom’s shot off the right post in the 47th minute was Stover’s biggest scoring threat of the match.

“Benjamin Calvert played great defensively and we had some guys step up today to protect the goalkeeper,” said Holiway. “Keaton Foster’s been a great leader on defense for us and with these last two games, not giving up a goal has obviously been big for this team.”

In the 61st minute, Wagenknecht had one of his many breakaways of the night and was tackled in the goal box, setting up a perfect opportunity for his teammate, Zack Price, to put the game out of reach.

Price’s shot was blocked in the lower left-hand corner, but he followed the deflection with a  putback to give Smithton a 5-0 lead.

Smithton ran down the clock and handed Stover a 5-0 loss on the latter’s home field, a familiar feeling for Smithton just a few weeks back.

“They came to our house earlier in the year and won the game,” he said. “The win today just shows me if these two teams play 10 games, we probably go 5-5.”

With its seven-game win streak, Smithton is playing its best soccer of the year, showcased by leadership on both ends of the field.

“Earlier in the year, it was every man for himself,” said Wagenknecht. “Now we’re controlling the ball, limiting turnovers and playing as a team.”

THIRD-PLACE GAME

Sacred Heart 3, Green Ridge 0

Edward Koenig scored two goals for top-seeded Sacred Heart.

He scored in the 46th  and 80th minutes.

Wes Register added a  goal in the 73rd minute.

Goalkeeper Jacob Harlan made two saves to earn the shutout. Green Ridge had only four shots on goal.

CONSOLATION GAME

La Monte 2, Cole Camp 1

Logan Austin scored both of La Monte’s goals, as the No. 2 seed rebounded from a first-round loss.

Austin took a header from Jacob Minor 15 minutes into the match for a 1-0 lead.

Cole Camp knotted the score with about 10 minutes left in the first half.

Austin beat the Cole Camp goalkeeper on a 15-yard shot in the second half for the game-winner.

Goalkeeper Nick Sullivan made 10 saves for La Monte, which improved to 6-2.