Eutectics battle raindrops along with Evangel
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Evangel (MO) (1-0-0) | 2 | 3 | 5 |
|
UHSP (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)
CREVE COEUR, MO. - The Eutectics began their 2023 campaign on Saturday at Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex. At the end of a week of triple-digit temperatures, the day instead featured a steady rain and temps in the 70's. Head Coach Dan Hogan got a good look at the future of his program as five freshman were in the starting lineup for the Eutectics' opening game of the year against the Evangel Valor. One of those rookies, was Jack Wolfe who started in goal, replacing departed veteran Alec Johnson from last season. Anthony Morales started in net for Evangel.
UHSP didn't take long to get their first real offensive chance as just 2:58 in, Grant Woodard sent one off the post as the game remained scoreless. 11:19 later, the Valor would grab the lead as Rem Harmsworth pushed a shot past Wolfe to make it 1-0. Ted Okoroh delivered the ball to Harmsworth for the opening goal and it was no where near the last time either Okoroh or Harmsworth would be heard from before the contest was over. Just over eight minutes after the opening goal, Okoroh got one of his own off a pass from Gabriel Eneh to make it 2-0 Evangel. Eutectic rookie Pietro Martano got a shot on goal just over a minute later that could have cut the two-goal deficit in half, but Morales was able to make the save for the Valor. Late in the first half, Evangel's Igor Ovcarevic had a couple of scoring chances, but one sailed just wide and Wolfe gloved the other for a save to keep it 2-0 at the break.
The Valor started the second half with a flurry as they continued to keep the pressure on the Eutectics. Evangel registered four shots in the opening four minutes of the second half, but could not push one past Wolfe. But 6:31 into the second half, Evangel converted off a beautiful set piece. Igor Ovcarevic delivered a corner kick that Ted Okoroh headed past Wolfe for a 3-0 lead for EU. The Valor pressed on with four more unsuccessful shots over the ensuing five minutes including another pair of corner kicks. At the 59:53 mark, Grant Woodard again hit the post on a shot that would have cut the margin to two. Less than three minutes later, Harmsworth scored again off an assist from Okoroh to make it 4-0. Okoroh finished off the hat trick with a goal at 65:50 to cap the scoring in a 5-0 Evangel win.
Evangel outshot UHSP 24-9 with Wolfe making seven saves in his Eutectic debut. Grant Woodard had six shots and Martano had three of UHSP's four shots on goal.
The Eutectics are now 0-1 and play host to Freed-Hardeman at St. Louis Univ. High at 11am on Thursday.
