December 23, 2024
SCHOOLBOY SOCCER

Bapst blanks Brewer Crusaders bust out, end drought

BREWER – The John Bapst High School Crusaders had been shut out in their previous two games.

But the drought ended Monday as the Bangor-based Crusaders scored three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 win over the young and inexperienced Brewer High School Witches.

John Bapst is now 5-3 while Brewer fell to 1-8.

Junior striker Sam Heathcote scored the first goal and set up sophomore striker Josh Jameson to make it 2-0 before senior midfielder Isaac Forbes converted a Ben Fenney corner with 3:23 remaining in the half.

Kyle Maynard, a senior fullback, capped the scoring off a Brandon Freeman corner late in the second half.

“We possessed the ball well, especially in the first half, and our passing was excellent. We got the ball to the wings and looked for back side runs,” said Crusaders coach Evan Frace.

Heathcote opened the scoring 9:17 into the game.

Jameson sent a through ball intended for Heathcote and Witch goalie Danny Juilli slid out to try to smother it in the slippery goalmouth.

“The ball was hard to control and everyone was kicking at it,” said Juilli, who had the ball bounce off him.

Heathcote deposited the loose ball into the vacant net.

“He made a mistake and I picked up on it,” said Heathcote, whose goal was his third of the year.

Jameson’s third goal of the season came 20 minutes later as he finished off a textbook passing play involving Heathcote and Fenney.

Fenney distributed the ball to the right flank and Heathcote crossed it to Jameson in the middle of the penalty area.

“It was a magnficent pass,” said Jameson. “The ball bounced and hit my thigh and I extended my leg to try to get my foot on the ball. Luckily it went in.”

Jameson’s 14-yard half-volley nestled in the far corner.

Forbes’ first goal came about when Fenney’s corner hugged the goal line and he tapped it in.

The Crusaders, led by Alex Means, totally controlled the midfield in the first half and outshot the Witches 20-4.

Brewer played much better in the second half, but couldn’t put the ball behind Rick Hathaway and Means, who replaced the goalie when he received a yellow card late in the match.

Maynard blasted home a loose ball for his first goal of the season.

“They outworked us. Our effort today wasn’t as good as it has been in the past,” said Brewer coach Darren Hall. “We’re inexperienced in the back and we made a few mistakes.”

Means and Hathaway combined for three saves on 10 shots while Juilli rejected 10 of 32 shots.


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