Neers Drip Out Win against Colonels

The boys soccer team hosted another game tonight versus another sister school in the Dixie Heights Colonels.  The SK boys were coming off a tough loss Saturday night at the hands of Scott in the President’s Cup.  What looked like at 4:00 might be a washout turned out to not be such a bad night, especially if you like the feel of a tropical rain forest; it was flat out muggy and the players were absolutely dripping wet.

The SK boys got on the board first when multi-sport athlete Tyler Smith knocked a shot in from just outside the 18 yard box in the 24^th minute for the 1-0 lead.  The assist came from  Jon Mairose who was in the right spot at the right time for the misguided Dixie pass.  The lead would hold up until the 36^th minute when the Colonels would tie the score on a beautifully executed corner play. 

The teams would go into half-time tied.  A half-time speech from the normally calm Jeremy Wolfe looked  to get animated at times, likely as a result of some his team’s play that got flat towards the end of the half.  Dixie’s speed was putting a pressure on the Neers who were dodging potential Dixie scores as a matter of regularity. 

SK came out in the second half and got instant pressure on Dixie right from the initial possession.  The Neer boys looked much better in the second frame as the play and effort was much more inspired and much more to the liking of Coach Wolfe and staff.  The Neers would score off a ricocheting corner kick off the foot of Isaac Hamlin for the go ahead score. 

The Dixie pressure came in full force from about the 80 minute mark until the end of the game.  Several nice plays by sophomore keeper  Hunter Leanhart would hold the lead as Dixie was awarded several corner kicks that the Neers were able to thwart.  One save in particular was a game saver by Leanhart as a shot from Dixie about 30 yards out just kept climbing requiring an acrobatic tip over the bar.  As with one goal leads in soccer, the clock barely seemed to move as SK made play after play in the box to preserve the win.  Leanhart would end up with 6 saves on the night; all of which were anything but routine.  SK only managed 4 shots on goal but connected when it mattered. 

Beautiful but muggy night on tap on the SK campus.

 

Brent Russell getting a little nudge from the Dixie keeper on the corner kick in the first half.


Looks like these two Dixie players are sparring; glad that orange boot missed teeth.


One of Leanhart's saves.


My leg certainly won't curve like this...


Russell with some big plays down the stretch.


Furious Dixie pressure down the stretch.