|
Boys quickly dispatch Monticello, 10-0
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · April 24, 2024
In an offensive clinic, the Class 1A No. 2 West Branch boys’ soccer team easily dispatched Monticello in just over a half in a 10-0 mercy rule romp Friday night at home.
“They knew coming into tonight that this was going to be a mercy game,” Bears Head Coach Ted Miller said. “I hate to say that. We got some players in positions that they wanted to play. It was kind of cool to be able to do that. It’s kind of fun for them.”
The Bears had had a pair of 9-0 wins over the Panthers in the previous two seasons, but the elusive 10th goal to end the match early had not come in either try. West Branch would not have to wait the full 80 minutes as a sharp offensive attack from the outset fueled the easy win.
Cameron Gingerich had the hot foot early, getting the first goal of the match on a perfect corner kick that sunk into the net after three minutes. Trenton Schutte and Baltazar Cedillo had shots from distance in the next two minutes before Cameron Gingerich struck again with a goal from long range to put the Bears up 2-0.
After a pair of shots by Schutte, Christian Scire had a couple of scoring chances as the Bears continued to pummel the overmatched Monticello defense with shots. Defender Timmy Hosier moved up the field, getting a shot on goal after nine minutes before Schutte had yet another shot on goal. Hosier then struck with a goal from distance as West Branch led 3-0 just 10 minutes into the match.
Cameron Gingerich had another long shot a minute later, while Scire had a shot on goal after a minute. Reese Gingerich started to get involved in the offense, as the forward had a goal at the 13-minute mark after dribbling past multiple defenders and getting another shot on goal a minute later. Joe Hamann got involved a minute later with a goal of his own, pushing the lead to 5-0. Another defender, senior Lincoln Edwards, moved up positions to get a shot on goal after 15 minutes. Following a Schutte shot in the same minute, Edwards got on the board with a goal set up by Sam Liu a minute later.
Now up by a comfortable 6-0 margin, the Bears were not done attacking. Liu flashed his playmaking skills again after getting two shots off, setting up a Jarrett Ellyson goal after 20 minutes. After an incredibly long shot by Cale Seydel from the West Branch side of the field, Schutte finally got a goal to go after 22 minutes.
The Bears started to experiment more with lineups, taking most of the starters off the field while sending in reserves from the end of the bench. Julian Weckman had some steady play at the forward spot including a shot on goal, while Bradyn Sexton and Dilan Kazlauskas saw plenty of playing time on defense in addition to regular reserves such as Cooper Burger, Seydel, Ellyson, and Liu getting more run than usual. Senior keeper Shae Farmer and Trenton Schutte swapped spots, with Farmer playing some forward.
“I think just the team camaraderie,” Miller said when asked about the benefits of playing players in different spots. “And the willingness to switch positions, give a guy a chance to score who never has a chance to do that. I think that’s just going to help the team bonding.” The coach added that the experimental nature of the match also helped shore up some strategies that the team wished to implement for future use.
Amid the shuffling, West Branch still got off plenty of quality looks. Seydel had two more shots, including one off of a header. Weckman nearly had a goal, while Cedillo had another good look after 34 minutes. Off a free kick, Burger had a shot on goal with four minutes to play in the half before Seydel rattled off two more shots. Farmer nearly had a goal with seconds remaining in the half on a great shot that just clanked off the right post of the goal.
The Bears rolled the starters back out to start the second half to put the Panthers out of their misery. Hamann rattled off a shot on goal a minute into the action, while Scire struck for a goal a minute later to put West Branch a goal away from the mercy rule. After 45 minutes, Schutte got the walkoff goal on a header to put an end to the offensive showcase.
With the Bears’ defense not receiving many true tests, West Branch saw most of its production from the midfielders. Schutte had a whopping four assists to go with his two goals, while Cameron Gingerich matched his two goals with two assists to supplement the good night from the forwards as well.
The Bears would not have much time to celebrate the victory, with a Monday night matchup against a Prince of Peace squad that upset West Branch in the postseason two years ago looming. Miller said that the Irish “have given us some headaches in the past” but said he hopes his team would come into the match “ready to play.”
1 2 T
Mont 0 0 0
WB 8 2 10
West Branch offense: Reese Gingerich 1 goal, 2 points, 4 shots, 2 SOG; Cameron Gingerich 2 assists, 2 goals, 6 points, 3 shots, 2 SOG; Timmy Hosier 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points, 2 shots, 2 SOG; Jarrett Ellyson 1 goal, 2 points, 2 shots, 2 SOG; Christian Scire 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points, 6 shots, 3 SOG; Julian Weckman 1 shot, 1 SOG; Trenton Schutte 4 assists, 2 goals, 8 points, 8 shots, 5 SOG; Joe Hamann 1 goal, 2 points, 3 shots, 2 SOG; Lincoln Edwards 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points, 3 shots, 3 SOG; Tate Frantz 1 assist, 1 point, 1 shot; Cooper Burger 4 shots, 2 SOG; Baltazar Cedillo 3 shots, 1 SOG; Cale Seydel 4 shots, 1 SOG; Sam Liu 2 assists, 2 points, 2 shots; Shae Farmer 2 shots, 1 SOG. Team totals: 12 assists, 10 goals, 32 points, 48 shots, 27 SOG.
West Branch goalkeeping: Trenton Schutte 0 goals allowed, 0 saves; Shae Farmer 0 goal allowed, 0 saves. Team totals: 0 goals allowed, 0 saves.
Monticello offense n/a
Monticello goalkeeping n/a
West Branch 9, Prince of Peace 0
Prince of Peace visited West Branch on Monday night and saw the Bears easily handle the Irish, 9-0.
1 2 T
POP 0 0 0
WB 6 3 9
West Branch offense: Reese Gingerich 1 goal, 2 points, 8 shots, 3 SOG; Cameron Gingerich 1 assist, 1 point, 7 shots, 2 SOG; Elliot Hinkhouse 1 assist, 1 point, 1 shot; Jarrett Ellyson 3 shots, 3 SOG; Christian Scire 1 assist, 4 goals, 9 points, 10 shots, 5 SOG; Trenton Schutte 2 assists, 2 goals, 6 points, 4 shots, 2 SOG; Joe Hamann 1 goal, 2 points, 9 shots, 3 SOG; Bradyn Sexton 1 goal, 2 points, 1 shot, 1 SOG; Lincoln Edwards 4 shots, 1 SOG; Tate Frantz 1 shot; Baltazar Cedillo 3 shots, 2 SOG; Sam Liu 2 assists, 2 points, 1 shot, 1 SOG. Team totals: 7 assists, 9 goals, 25 points, 52 shots, 23 SOG.
West Branch goalkeeping: Shae Farmer 0 goals allowed, 2 saves, 100 PCT. Team totals: 0 goals allowed, 2 saves, 100 PCT.
Prince of Peace offense n/a
Prince of Peace goalkeeping n/a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
