Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Raiders’ offensive pressure prevails with late goal
Move to 8-1-2 on season
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — Close calls were the story of the game for the Williamsburg boys soccer team Tuesday in a WaMaC conference match against Independence.
Until it wasn’t.
The Class 2A No. 5 Raiders were coming of a 2-2 draw the night before against Benton Community, and did not want that same result against Independence.
“We definitely had something to prove tonight and came in with some fire,” Williamsburg senior Gunnar Van Hyfte said. “We play as hard as we can from the start to the end. Everyone on our team is a dog.”
After a fairly even first half in terms of shots generated offensively, the Raiders took over in the second half.
The Raiders had one shot hit the side of the goal and several one-on-ones with Independence goalkeeper Dylan Everett-Garcia, whose aggressiveness prevented the Raiders from scoring early in the second half.
The tables finally turned in the 26th minute.
The Raiders had numbers, and midfielder Van Hyfte had the ball in the corner.
Van Hyfte’s pass to teammate Mohammed Ali near the goal was perfect, and Ali connected on a shot for the Raiders at the 14:15 mark.
Ali nearly scored several times in the game.
“Mohammed flies around and he probably has the best hustle on the whole team,” Van Hyfte said.
The Raiders’ defense protected the lead in the final 14 minutes of the game, and Williamsburg posted a 1-0 shutout.
“It was good to bounce back tonight,” Williamsburg coach Ryan Sauser said. “Last night was one we felt we should have had. The guys did a good job with a few guys out.“
Part of that Raiders’ defense is a unique approach at goalkeeper.
Elias Schanz and Logan Hummer have been splitting reps at the position all season, and the for the first time this season they each played a half of a game.
“They have good character and you know they both want to start every game,” said Sauser. “But they help each other get better and push each other. Their success is a result of one another.”
As the Raiders regular season thins out, getting fully healthy is priority number one.
The team was without their leading scorer, Mason Eggleston, Tuesday after he was banged up the night before.
A healthy Eggleston, along with the other pieces the Raiders have, brings the potential to make a run at state this season.
“I’d love to get everyone together and healthy here down the stretch,” Sauser said. “We just got to take it a game at a time, try to take care of business, and not look to far ahead.”
The fifth-ranked Raiders moved to 8-1-2 following the win Tuesday.
In the girls’ game following the boys, Class 2A No. 7 Independence topped the Raiders 10-0. The night before, against Benton Community, the Raiders drew a tie at 1-1.
