UNION SPRINGS - In soccer, there is rarely time for a break and the Union Springs and Groton boys teams proved that to be the truth on Thursday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Union Springs freshman Mitchell Hares puts the ball into the net to top Groton 2-1 before halftime.
Union Springs freshman Mitchell Hares puts the ball into the net to top Groton 2-1 before halftime.
Wolves freshman Mitchell Hares scored what turned out to be the winning goal with just under four minutes remaining in the first half on a pass from Justin Lyndaker en route to the 3-1 victory.
“It was a great pass to me from Justin,” Hares said.
“It just felt really nice to make the goal.”
The Wolves were down within the first 10 minutes of the game, as Groton struck first on an unassisted goal by Cameron Adams, but Union Springs battled back to tie the score with 10 minutes left in the half by a Lyndaker goal.
Just a few minutes later Hares sank the go-ahead shot. Hares' score wasn't designed, but the team was determined to keep their heads up despite being tied. “We played our best game today,” Hares said. “We hustled and played all 80 minutes of the game.”
“It shows a lot about our team,” Wolves coach Jim Hodges added. “They kept their composure for us and that's huge. We just keep maturing with a such a young group.”
Union Springs only has three seniors on their team, but it appears as though the season is improving as its experience is growing.
“I think games like these will definitely help us down the road,” Hodges said. “There are still kids learning varsity level skills. It takes awhile, but they've adjusted well.”
Jason Schenck, one of the Wolves' seniors, assisted on the first goal. Mark Ryan scored the goal that put the game away in the second half, while Eric Hlywa had the assist.
First year goalie Matt Orchard recorded seven saves. The Wolves had 16 shots on goal and four corner kicks, while Groton had 10 shots on goal and two corner kicks.
“Matt came to me early in the year and offered to be our goalie,” Hodges said. “Then my job became to help him become a varsity goalie.”
After losing big to the defending Class C champions Marathon earlier this week, Union Springs seemed to bounce right back. That was evident when they never gave up after the quick strike by the Indians.
“We've had other games in which we've been scored on quickly,” Hodges said.
“Everytime that our defense made a good defensive stop, I noticed our confidence being built up.”
Union Springs (3-5 overall, 3-1 Division III, IAC) can use all the confidence they can get as they continue on their current six game home stretch against rival Southern Cayuga (6-1 overall), Saturday.
“We just want to continue to build on our success,” Hodges said. “They need to understand that if they play together, then they will be successful. Then the W's just keep coming. (Chiefs) Coach (Terry) Underwood has a great team and this is a great rival for our young guys.”
Hares agrees with his coach on his team's next opponent.
“We just need to come off this game and look at what we've improved on,” he said. “Then we need to look over what we need to improve on and work on that also.”
“The kids stepped it up today,” Hodges added. “I'm very pleased with our growth and maturity.”
Wolves 3
Indians 1
“It was a great pass to me from Justin,” Hares said.
“It just felt really nice to make the goal.”
The Wolves were down within the first 10 minutes of the game, as Groton struck first on an unassisted goal by Cameron Adams, but Union Springs battled back to tie the score with 10 minutes left in the half by a Lyndaker goal.
Just a few minutes later Hares sank the go-ahead shot. Hares' score wasn't designed, but the team was determined to keep their heads up despite being tied. “We played our best game today,” Hares said. “We hustled and played all 80 minutes of the game.”
“It shows a lot about our team,” Wolves coach Jim Hodges added. “They kept their composure for us and that's huge. We just keep maturing with a such a young group.”
Union Springs only has three seniors on their team, but it appears as though the season is improving as its experience is growing.
“I think games like these will definitely help us down the road,” Hodges said. “There are still kids learning varsity level skills. It takes awhile, but they've adjusted well.”
Jason Schenck, one of the Wolves' seniors, assisted on the first goal. Mark Ryan scored the goal that put the game away in the second half, while Eric Hlywa had the assist.
First year goalie Matt Orchard recorded seven saves. The Wolves had 16 shots on goal and four corner kicks, while Groton had 10 shots on goal and two corner kicks.
“Matt came to me early in the year and offered to be our goalie,” Hodges said. “Then my job became to help him become a varsity goalie.”
After losing big to the defending Class C champions Marathon earlier this week, Union Springs seemed to bounce right back. That was evident when they never gave up after the quick strike by the Indians.
“We've had other games in which we've been scored on quickly,” Hodges said.
“Everytime that our defense made a good defensive stop, I noticed our confidence being built up.”
Union Springs (3-5 overall, 3-1 Division III, IAC) can use all the confidence they can get as they continue on their current six game home stretch against rival Southern Cayuga (6-1 overall), Saturday.
“We just want to continue to build on our success,” Hodges said. “They need to understand that if they play together, then they will be successful. Then the W's just keep coming. (Chiefs) Coach (Terry) Underwood has a great team and this is a great rival for our young guys.”
Hares agrees with his coach on his team's next opponent.
“We just need to come off this game and look at what we've improved on,” he said. “Then we need to look over what we need to improve on and work on that also.”
“The kids stepped it up today,” Hodges added. “I'm very pleased with our growth and maturity.”
Wolves 3
Indians 1
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