In a busy week for Mathews High School soccer, the varsity Devils dropped three games, falling to district opponents West Point and Middlesex and losing an 8-0 shutout to 5A Gloucester. The junior varsity Devils, meanwhile, posted wins over the Pointers and Chargers, but fell to the Dukes, 6-2.
West Point
In a hard-fought game last Wednesday, the visiting Devils lost by a 3-2 margin to West Point. West Point opened the scoring on a header off a corner kick. Mathews responded as Jonny McCann capitalized on a West Point defensive error, scoring a volley from near the 18’.
The game continued to be physical, with both teams looking to gain the advantage. Mathews avoided a Pointers’ goal by inches, when a deflected save was kicked off the line by Joel Metzger and Tyler Jackson. The Devils took a 2-1 lead, as Isaiah Bivins put a shot into the back of the net on a through pass from Jaysen Hall.
Mathews held a 2-1 lead until midway through the second half, when the score was tied on an accidental own goal by Jackson.
The Blue Devils’ defensive line played exceptionally well, anchored by Calvin Kramer and Zach Cummings, who set the tone. Goalie Landon Hudgins also had an impressive night, with several last-second saves. As the final minutes ticked down, the Pointers ended up with a breakaway, going one-on-one with the Mathews keeper. The West Point striker converted on the shot for the 3-2 win.
In the JV contest, Mathews took a 4-1 lead at halftime, scoring four more times to win the contest, 8-1. Laney Hall finished the game with three goals. Also contributing to the score column were Miles Maggioncalda with two, and Carson Brown, Josh Rosadino, and Tres Hostinsky with one goal each. Maggioncalda contributed two assists, while Rosadino added one.
Gloucester
Mathews traveled to 5A opponent Gloucester on Friday. The Dukes got on the scoreboard 12 minutes into the match, and despite the Devils’ best efforts, Gloucester led 4-0 at the half. Gloucester would duplicate its scoring effort in the second half for the win.
The Blue Devils’ passing was good, but their much faster opponents made it difficult to keep possession. Mathews only took one shot on their opponents’ goal during the contest. Both Landon Hudgins and Noah Lewis made appearances in goal during the game. The defensive line of Joel Metzger, Calvin Kramer, Sean Carlson, and Justin Jenkins played tough throughout the match.
For the JV squad, Maggioncalda and Austin Wood provided the only scoring for Mathews in the 7-2 loss to the Dukes. Wood scored his goal off an assist from Kamryn Blake.
Middlesex
Despite drawing first blood, the varsity Devils eventually lost to the visiting Middlesex Chargers on Monday, 6-2. Will Hutcheson scored the first goal of the game, putting the ball through a Middlesex defender’s legs and into the net off a corner kick. The Chargers responded five minutes later with a goal of their own. Middlesex came back to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
The second Mathews goal came early in the second half. A perfect through ball off the left foot of Jaysen Hall set up Sawyer Hutson perfectly for the goal to close the gap to 3-2. But that’s as close as Mathews would get.
In the JV contest, after a 2-2 score at halftime, Mathews would pour it on in the second half to beat the Chargers, 7-3. Tres Hostinsky score both of the first-half goals for Mathews. In the second half, Jake Hicks and Maggioncalda each added two goals, while Hall scored one.
The varsity Devils traveled to Carver last night and both the varsity and JV squads will wrap up the regular season at home Friday against Washington and Lee.