Gateway: Memorial continues winning ways

Gateway: Memorial continues winning ways
by Sheldon Shealer
October 3, 2015

O’FALLON, Mo. – A pair of offensive-minded underclassmen made sure Evansville Memorial (Ind.) continued its winning ways, sparking a 2-1 victory over host St. Dominic (Mo.) during Friday’s action at the Gateway Soccer Classic.

Sophomore Andrew Cross calmly settled the ball on a breakaway and beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead and later former Development Academy player and junior Sam Bonano delivered the winning score with a 20-yard free kick goal as Evansville Memorial upped its record to 13-2.

“I think we learned that we can play with good teams and we can defend when we need to,” Memorial coach Bill Vieth said.

Evansville Memorial went 1-2 in the early season Indiana-Kentucky Challenge, allowing 10 goals. Since then, the team has rolled off three wins over out-of-state opponents during an eight-game win streak where the Tigers have allowed only six goals.

MORE: 2015 Gateway Soccer Classic Coverage

Evansville Memorial will face a pair of Illinois teams Saturday, which marks the end of the team’s regular season schedule.

Cross’ goal gave Memorial a lead just four minutes into the match, but St. Dominic’s go-to player Jack Stoll responded with the equalizer just two minutes later. Stoll chipped the Evansville Memorial keeper, who got caught in no-man’s land after hesitating on where to challenge Stoll for the ball. Bonano’s decisive goal came midway through the first half, and there was no scoring over the final 60 minutes.

In the nightcap at St. Dominic’s, [Lee’s Summit West mo-m] (Mo.) exploited big gaps in the Highland Park (Ill.) defense and ran away with a 3-0 victory. Erlend Brunes scored 7:10 into the match, and Connor Young and Maxwell Harrington scored goals 26 seconds apart 10 minutes into the second half to cap the scoring.

The junior-dominated lineup countered quickly all night long and quality services from Brock Wright, Nick Barr and Rhys Harrington created several scoring chances for the state-ranked team, which is now 11-2.

Round Robin A

Peoria Notre Dame (Ill.) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) enter Saturday’s action with 2-0 records and one is likely to emerge as the bracket champion.

PND faces Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.) and Aquinas takes on Chaminade (Mo.) in the final round of play Saturday morning.

PND routed Glendale (Mo.) 6-0, while Aquinas handled Denver East (Colo.) 4-0.

Aquinas received goals from four players, include Lucas Barlett, who netted his third of the tournament.

Chaminade (Mo.), a 3-2 winner over Rock Bridge (Mo.), remains in the title hunt and would need a win over Aquinas coupled with a PND loss to snag the title.

In the other Friday match, Sheriden Smith scored the lone goal as Webster Groves (Mo.) stunned Rockhurst, eliminating the Hawklets from the title chase.

Bracket B

Brayden White head home the winning goal on a corner kick with eight minutes left as Washburn Rural (Kan.) stunned Christian Brothers College (Mo.) 1-0 in the Bracket B semifinals.

Washburn coach Brian Hensyl said CBC looked tired from its win over Pingry School (N.J.) the night before, yet was pleased with the result that puts his team in the final.

Washburn Rural will take on Quincy (Ill.) in the title match at 3 p.m.

Quincy rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over Cherry Creek (Colo.). Jaeden Smith, Riley Roth and Brayden Nokes scored for Quincy, which is seeking a second Gateway bracket in three four seasons.

In the consolation matches, Vianney (Mo.) defeated St. James (Kan.) 2-0 and Kickapoo (Mo.) edged O'Fallon (Ill.).

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