Game Summaries & Headlines.
Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Forsyth Homeschoolers
5.0 years ago @ 10:29AM
- Game Date
- Aug 14, 2018
- Score
- : 4
FORSYTH HOMESCHOOLERS: 2
KNIGHTS GAIN WIN #2 OF THE 2018 FALL SOCCER SEASON SCORING A 4-2 WIN OVER THE FORSYTH HOMESCHOOLERS; 2-0-0 Overall, 0-0 Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)
WINSTON SALEM, NC- As a follow up to winning the first game of the 2018 season, the Knights made the trek to the Sara Lee Soccer Complex in Winston Salem to face the Forsyth Homeschoolers. The Homeschoolers were coming off a great season a year ago and have high expectations for 2018. But this day would belong to the visiting Knights.
In the games 5th minute Senior Gabe Walker took a long kick from senior Will Lehman and showed his top end speed outrunning his defenders for an early 1-0 advantage. However the Homeschoolers would respond in minute number 34 with their first goal of the contest to knot the score 1-1.
In typical HCA fashion, the Knights would respond quickly at the 39th minute as once again Senior Gabe Walker broke free and received a pin point assist from Freshman Braden Runyon to give the visiting Knights a 2-1 advantage right before the half would expire.
While speaking to team at halftime, coach Josh Walker challenged each player to step it up and play better, play at a higher level and be more aggressive. The Knights took it to heart as the first 30 minutes of the second half was a back and forth battle of physicality and determination from both teams.
At this point of the contest you could sense that the next goal was going to be pivotal in the outcome of the game. So the Knights went to work on the offensive side as Freshman Braden Runyon scored an unassisted goal in minute 71 to move the score to 3-1 HCA advantage. But the Homeschoolers were tenacious and bounced back with a goal of their own at the 74 minute make to bring the score to 3-2 still in favor of the visiting Knights. Despite the enthusiasm and momentum from the Homeschoolers Senior Wil Lehman performed a huge over head thrown in from the right side of the pitch during minute number 77 that found Freshman Braden Runyon for his second goal of the contest and increase the margin to 4-2. Despite a valiant effort from Forsyth Homeschoolers the score would remain until the end of the contest.
For the game, the Knights welcomed back injured Senior Owen Duncan who held down the goalie position limiting the Homeschoolers to only a few shots on goal. The recipient of the games HCA Battle Ball, Duncan was in charge from the opening whistle, commanding his area and being aggressive out of the box. The Senior also communicated and managed the defensive back line which proved to be the difference in the game.
Also making his return to game action was Senior Aedan Arnot. Arnot had a busy summer as he first traveled to Scotland then England. Upon settling in Montana with family a once in a lifetime experience happened as a camp he was attending was washed out and the Senior had to be evacuated by helicopter. He then met with six different professional photographers, two of which worked for National Geographic and Smithsonian. Arnot has career ambitions of being a professional photographer himself.
In the team huddle at the conclusion of the game, head coach Josh Walker shared his thoughts on the win and what's to improve upon moving forward. "It was a win but not a pretty win. We've got to be better conditioned and communicate better." Walker also stated, "We must not allow teams to take away possession on the back line."