High school soccer: Defense fuels narrow win for Winged Lion

SANDY — As the saying goes, a strong defense wins games.

That is especially true when it is two defenders that score the tying and winning goals, as was the case for Rowland Hall when it defeated Waterford 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Ravens, which had lost to Rowland Hall by seven goals three weeks prior, put the Winged Lion on its heels early in the game. As the more aggressive team, Waterford controlled the possession throughout much of the first half and scored first when Jacob Chung, a junior midfielder, slipped the ball into the left corner of the net.

"Early on I thought (Waterford) was the better team, and we couldn't really get our possession game in place," said Rowland Hall coach Bobby Kennedy. "(I was) pleased to see in the second half that we kind of rallied a little bit."

After reviewing "basic principles of defense" at the halftime chat, Kennedy's team responded with two quick goals in the first six minutes of the second half.

Sophomore Blake Shott scored first, driving the ball into the right corner of the net, and freshman Jacob Wilkinson followed up with a shot that flew under Waterford goalkeeper Adam Curtis as he dove to make the stop.

"We think can create chances with our defenders moving forward," Kennedy said of how his team set up the goals. "I think we were dangerous coming out of the back with them so we were trying to promote that."

Kennedy added that this game was much more like typical contests between his team and the Ravens as opposed to the lop-sided, 7-0 final at the end of March.

"I've been here eight years and when we play Waterford it's always a good game," he said. "This year, at our place, we kind of stunned them a little bit; it was a little out of character, I think. We knew they were going to be a much bigger challenge today. It's a little bit more like a Rowland Hall-Waterford game today."

Along with the play of Rowland Hall's defenders, Kennedy attributed his team's success to the leadership of center defender Mats Sanyer.

"He's one of the few seniors we have. He did a good job leading us from the back. That's a role that is emerging, he's kind of just developing a little bit vocally and really trying to take charge and organize it. I was pleased with that."

email: sthomas@desnews.com