BOYS' SOCCER: Chargers' defense logs 2nd straight shutout

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on August 24, 2016 1:49 PM

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BY BEN COLEY

bcoley@newsargus.com

Up 2-0 in the 55th minute Tuesday afternoon, three Kerr-Vance players surrounded Wayne Country Day's Hunter Bryson as dribbled along the left side of the field.

Advantage Bryson.

The junior kicked the ball past the defenders and eventually touched a pass to senior Noah Adkins who finished the play with an effortless goal. It was a microcosm of WCDS' dominance in possession.

The Chargers piled on two more goals in the second half to finish with a 5-0 victory over the Spartans.

Bryson said that with practice and good vision, handling multiple defenders becomes much less difficult.

Or maybe he just makes it look easy.

"Well first, Nehemiya (Shaw) played it back to me," Bryson said, recalling his assist to Adkins. "And at first, I was going to shoot it, but Noah (Adkins) called for it. And I saw the open lane, slid it right through to him and he finished it."

Bryson was involved in the offense early into the match, as well.

In the 19th minute, he attempted to flick the ball past his defender, and it was stolen. However, Bryson immediately took the ball back, saw a lane and easily kicked it past the Spartans' goalkeeper for the Chargers' first goal.

The WCDS offense drew 18 corner kicks in the match -- 14 in the first half.

"I think we did really well," said WCDS head coach Steve Ellis. "We had three starters who didn't play. We had to make some changes in positions. I thought it was going to take a few minutes to settle, but the boys took to it, and we just dominated the game."

Two of the starters who didn't play were key defenders -- freshman Colby Bowen and senior Hayes Gerrard.

Yet the Chargers' defense continually stifled any semblance of an attack by the Spartans. Kerr-Vance attempted three shots on goal and did not attempt a single corner kick.

It's the second game in a row that Chargers' goalkeeper Mitch Turnage and the defense have pitched a shutout. They defeated Bethel Christian 6-0 just a week ago.

Adkins led the team with two goals, and added an assist. Before scoring off Bryson's assist, the senior captain knocked in a penalty kick in the 26th minute.

In the 68th and 71st minute, junior John Thompson and sophomore Caleb Brewer each added a goal to cushion the Chargers' lead.

Ellis said the team will continue to work on positioning in the middle of the field, playing well in front of the goal and capitalizing on corner kicks. But he likes where his team is headed right now.

So does Bryson.

"A couple of players are injured," Bryson said. "I think we're doing good right now, but hopefully once people get back, we can do better."