GHV opens 2016 season with a win and a loss

(Above) GHV’s Turner Albertson goes against a CAL player for possesion of the ball.  Albertson scored three of GHV’s 12 goals in Monday night’s match-up.  Also pictured for the Cardinals is Ryan Meyers (#12).  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

[caption id="attachment_16683" align="alignleft" width="270"] The Cardinal’s Brady Hess takes a kick in Monday night’s home contest against CAL. -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys soccer team opened the 2016 season with a close loss to Mason City, followed by a trouncing of CAL.

Mason City 3, GHV 0

It wasn’t the opening night the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys were hoping for, as they fell to Mason City, 3-0, on Friday, April 1.  It was a tough battle in very windy conditions.

“I knew that Mason City would be a tough team this year,” said Coach Eric Williams.  “They are very well coached and are starting to get a lot of kids committed to the program.”

The Cardinals came out tough, but had a few shots turned away early in the game.  They also had one shot that drifted wide right of the goal.

The Mohawks scored 24 minutes into the contest. GHV again rallied and got another chance, but this time the shot hit the cross bar and fell short. Mason City took advantage of the wind in the second half and scored two more times to capture the 3-0 victory.

“We had our opportunities and it seemed we were just short on a shot, or one pass away from making a play.  We just couldn’t get that one extra step in,” said Williams.

Starting the game for GHV was Jared Graham, Patrick Terhark, Ryan Myers, Turner Albertson, Dalton Basinger, Jonah Albertson, Nick Joynt, Colton Raw, Dane Whipple, Brandon Feuring and Aiden McRobie.  Also seeing action was Seth Miller, Colton Schroeder, Connor Shaw and Connor Burke.

McRobie, who serves as GHV’s goal keeper, finished with 10 saves and had two goals scored against him.  Following an injury to McRobie, Miller stepped in for the final 20 minutes in goal and made four saves and had one goal scored against him.

Myers had four shots, Terhark had two shots and Turner Albertson and Whipple each had one shot. Burke had two shots on goal and Basinger had one shot on goal.

“I’m really proud of the way our team continued to battle, and the senior leadership really is shining through,” said Williams.  “We again have a great group of young men who are enjoying the game and are committed to getting better.”

GHV 12, CAL 3

It was a great night for soccer when the Cardinals hosted CAL on Monday, April 4.  GHV pounded the understaffed CAL team, 12-3.

CAL started the match off with 10 players, but lost one to injury in the first half, leaving them with only nine players on the field for about 20 minutes.  The Cadets lost another player in the second half.  GHV Coach Eric Williams pulled a couple of his players to even up the match.

“Even though the score doesn’t look like it, CAL is a great team,” said Coach Eric Williams.  “We were a bit sloppy in the first half.”

The Cardinals managed a 4-2 lead by halftime.  It was in the second half that GHV exploded, collecting seven goals in the final 20 minutes of play.

“I do believe that if CAL had 11 guys and some subs, it would have been a more competitive match,” said Williams.  “I am proud of my young men for fighting the urge to coast and just be content with the lead, but they worked on getting better.”

Scoring three goals apiece for the Cardinals was Turner Albertson, Dalton Basinger and Connor Burke.  Ryan Myers, Dane Whipple and Colton Schroeder each had one goal.

Burke led the team in assists with three, followed by Albertson with two.

Goalie Seth Miller had six saves.