The Southmoreland Boys Soccer season came to an abrupt end after a first round playoff game against the Laurel Highlands Mustangs Saturday at Norwin High School with a 4-0 loss.
“We definitely could have won this game,” said senior striker Henry Riley. “But we just didn’t execute the way I know that we can.”
The Scotties were extremely excited and focused as they entered the game. They had a formation they hoped would work despite the absence of starting center defender, senior Regis Kaufman.
To make up for Kaufman, coach Chris Hixson brought in two freshmen, Anthony DePalma and Braden Fox.
“It was fantastic that these younger guys were able to experience a playoff game as freshman. They definitely have great potential,” Riley said. “But when you lose a player like Regis, it really hurts your team.”
Laurel Highlands dominated the entire match. The Scotties defense held their own for a solid 36 minutes until a persistent Mustang forward scored their first goal with 3:57 left in the first half.
Junior goal keeper Hudson Nicholson was able to make two impressive saves in the first half, but his groove was quickly shut down when another Mustang forward scored their second goal with 1:27 left in the first half. At halftime the score was Laurel Highlands 2, Southmoreland 0, and the Mustangs never looked back.
The Scotties approached the second half with their heads held high, ready to get back into this battle. A favorable bounce from a Mustang midfielder escaped the reach of Nicholson, making the score 3-0. However, Nicholson made yet another two incredible saves, and the offense was able to create some opportunities but couldn’t find the goal.
“We managed to get (close on) two corner kicks,” Riley said. “We just couldn’t make anything out of them on the other end, and they both got cleared out by the goalie.”
As time went on, the ball kept battling its way around midfield, back and forth between both teams. The Scotties managed to get quite a few breakaways, but most of them were not good enough to result in a goal.
When the Scotties had an advantage, Riley crossed the ball junior Dillan Willard, and later on to junior Stephen Ozoroski, and they were both able to get a couple shots off. Unfortunately Riley, the team’s leading scorer, was not able to get a shot off himself throughout the entire match.
“I knew that if I played within my position and did what I was supposed to do, the goals would come,” Riley said. “I just don’t think I did enough to win the game this time.”
A late Mustang goal ended the scoring at 4-0.
“It’s never great to end a season on a loss, especially your final season, but I feel proud of what I was able to accomplish,” Riley said. “I’m glad I was able to be a part of two consecutive playoff teams, and I know that I am really going to miss the people I have cultivated relationships with, especially Coach Hixson. He’s a fantastic coach and an even better person.”
Southmoreland coaches and fans entered the game expecting great things from the Scotties due to their outstanding performance leading up to the match. The Scotties won the last four of five section games, making them 8-4 in their section after a 4-3 start.
“We were able to beat teams the second time around that beat us the first time,” Coach Chris Hixson said.
Those few extra wins allowed the Scotties to share the third-place slot to the playoffs with Indiana.
Riley was the Scotties main goal scorer for two consecutive years.
“He is an extremely skilled player, one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Coach Hixson said in reference to Riley. “He uses his intelligence to his advantage. This helps him be the skilled player that he is.”