MINT HILL, NC – The young Stallions from Queen’s Grant played a non-conference game against Central Academy a very solid soccer team stocked with some talented seniors. They discovered where they are in the team’s development and what direction the team needs to pursue to improve and be competitive within their own conference.
The Cougars are in the Rocky River 2A/3A Conference so the Stallions who are in a 1A conference were certainly playing a stronger team and competition above their conference. Sometimes in a game like this many lessons can be learned. In soccer 5-0 is considered a blowout. However, the Stallions hung in with a better team and competed for 80 minutes. In fact, the young Stallions played even for the first 15 minutes, but Central kept applying pressure attacking consistently and finally scored their first goal by junior left wing Jose Dominguez inside the crease past the goaltender in a quick and furious rush.
The second score came inside the 9 minute mark remaining in the first half when senior mid-fielder, forward Nate Tewelde would score the first of two goals in the contest with a high smash into the right corner of the net against a diving Glenn Rogers the Stallions goalkeeper. The first half ended with the Cougars on top 2-0.
In the second half, Central Academy continued to dominate the action. They kept the pressure on the young Stallions controlling the flow and tempo of the game throughout the entire 40 minutes. The Cougars used their superior ball handling and passing skills to shut-down any offense Queen’s Grant tried to mount keeping the action 34 minutes inside the defensive zone putting pressure on the Stallion defenders and goalie.
The third goal was scored by senior forward Jonathan Kamenick who had 10 shots alone on goal during the contest. This came at 33 minutes remaining in the game giving the Cougars a comfortable 3-0 lead. Then just 3 minutes later at the 30-minute mark, a rebound after a very nice save by Rogers, bounced off his hands was booted in by Tewelde for his second goal giving the Cougars a 4-0 commanding advantage.
The final goal was scored by senior Marco Almeida with just under 4 minutes remaining in the contest to put the icing on the cake for the Cougars who picked up their third victory of the season against one loss.
The Stallions junior Thaeden Guskiewicz, a mid-fielder and defender was named “Player of the Game” by QGHS coach Mark Guercio based on his defensive effort, his leadership, and an overall strong effort in the loss.
Also, kudos should go to goalkeeper Glenn Rogers who played 78 minutes under constant pressure defending 20 shots on goal, with 15 saves, including a few outstanding efforts. The saves kept the contest closer than it could have been in this writer’s view. Meanwhile, the Stallions were able to muster only one shot on goal in the game which clearly shows how much the Cougars dominated the action.
The Stallions are now 0-2-1 on the season and will play Chambers High School next on the road this coming Monday 8/31.
