Pony boys win at Hermon
HERMON — Every game at the end of the season becomes crucial for teams battling to get into the playoffs. An Oct. 11 contest at Hermon HIgh School was no exception for the Foxcroft Academy boys soccer team looking to make the postseason this year. The Ponies sit in ninth place in the Class B North standings, where only the top 10 teams make the playoffs.
Things did not look good for Foxcroft early on as junior defender Barrett Knapp was lost to an injury in the first couple of minutes of the game. Knapp made a saving slide tackle on a streaking Hermon forward and the player landed on Knapp’s knee. The Hawks were awarded a direct kick just outside the box and connected for an early 1-0 lead. This put the Ponies on their heels and took most of the first half to recover.
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A STEP AHEAD — Foxcroft Academy senior Hunter Clarke takes control of the ball during an Oct. 11 game at Hermon. The Ponies scored five times in the second half to win 6-1.
With 12 minutes left in the half Foxcroft was finally able to get on the board when senior Shadane Hamilton passed the ball to his left to a wide open Jahime Carghill. Carghill was able to get in the penalty box and beat the Hermon keeper to his left to make it 1-1. It seemed that the Ponies were back in the game but Hermon quickly struck back when the Foxcroft defense could not clear the ball from the team’s back third. Hermon stole the ball and took a shot just outside the penalty area box to give the Hawks a 2-1 halftime lead.
The Ponies had to gain control of this game before it was too late and the team did just that in the second half. Foxcroft came out with a different attitude and an intensity that was lacing in the first half. The Ponies had an incredible second half by scoring five goals.
Leading the attack was Hamilton when he broke through the Hawks defense after he received a long pass from senior Rico Ayala. Hamilton kept the ball down and out the keepers reach to tie the score 2-2. Ten minutes later the Pony attacked continued, when Carghill crossed the ball deep from the right corner of the Hawk’s defense. There sophomore Michael Wang was able to win the ball in the top of the box and shot a rocket into the back of the net to give Foxcroft a 3-1 lead.
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CLASS B NORTH CLASH — Senior Jacob Raynes gets through the Hermon defense.
A minute later, Hamilton stole the ball from a Hawk defender and was able to capitalize on the turnover and give the Ponies a now commanding 4-1 lead. Hermon looked rattled and were now committing unnecessary fouls, this one cost the team when it fouled 25 yards out. Sophomore Danny Cornett took the direct kick and nailed it right to the keeper. He could not handle the ball and pushed it out where Ayala came crashing in and headed the ball into the goal for a 5-1 lead.
With three minutes left Carghill sealed the win with a breakaway goal that gave the Ponies and impressive 6-1 victory.
“I am so impressed with today’s effort,” head coach Luis Ayala said. “We found ourselves struggling in the first half and we fought hard to get back into the game. The key was our senior leadership, they really stepped up to lead this team to victory.”
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CLIPPING THE HAWK — Pony sophomore Danny Cornett tries to clear the ball away from a Hermon defender.