The Red Bank soccer team stunned the CSLA Eagles on their own turf by a score of 6-3. The Lions, with an away win, knew it would not be easy coming into the match. CSLA, despite being a fairly new program and high school, were highly skilled and ready for the battle. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Lions depth of players and overall experience gave them the upper hand in this road game thriller.
There was a long drought in the early minutes of the game. Both teams trying to adapt to the playing style of the other and figure out a point of attack. Twelve minutes in and CSLA opened the scoring with a screamer of a hit by Conner Tate. They took a corner by Alejandro Bougrat. His pass when on the ground to the top of the box and their midfielders played the feint to perfection. They made the keeper believe the shot was happening before they took it. 8 hit it first time to the top corner to put the CSLA up 1-0.
This did not phase Red Bank by any means. Straight from the kickoff they press high and push the ball forward. They had many chances before this that did not result to anything. Despite having no luck early in the first half, they put a goal in and tied the game 1-1 less than a minute after CSLA went up. Malachi Stephenson pressed the defense and forces a mistake outside the ball. The keeper was not prepared and out of position allowing for an easy shot and point for red bank.
From this point on it was all about the Lions. The switch of momentum from their first goal sparked a hunger inside of them. They wanted to keep scoring and they did. Next was from Stephenson for his second of the night. It came after a missed opportunity from their striker that bounced right to him for a simple finish. Not long after, Red Bank found themselves on the score sheet again. A fast counter and Stephenson runs in behind to finish his third goal and complete a first half hat-trick. The first half ended with the Lions up 3-1.
Red Bank kicked off to start the second half. The momentum stayed with them for most of this half and they were still finding the back of the net. The first goals came quickly for the Lions. Rabanales tried to create space on the dribble and found no forward options. He turned back to play a drop back pass to Joseph Thompson, who first time hit it from midfield and scored. The ball was lobbed over the keeper and off the crossbar before making its way in the goal.
The next goal came from a free kick at the top of the box. CSLA, while putting up a strong wall on defense had a bit of bad luck when the ball deflected off the center back’s arm. Red Bank took advantage of this mistake and scored off the well-designed play. They lined five players up for the free kick and laid the ball off into space for Estuardo Rabanales to crush it into the net putting Red Bank up 5-1.
The final goal for the lions almost gave Stephenson his fourth goal of the night but the Eagles keeper had other plans. The keeper’s spectacular save during the one-on-one play could not keep the Lions from scoring. After the save, the ball landed right at Fransico Garcia’s feet for him to get his first goal of the game making it a 6-1 lead.
CSLA, despite being down by five, continued to fight back. They put two more in late in the second half to make the final score 6-3. The two goals came from Michael Hirschel and Conner Tate, both of whom played an all-around great performance for the entire match. After the game, head coach of the Lions, Bill Fischer talked about what the win meant to him and his team and how it shapes the rest of the season for Red Bank.
“For us this was the first game that we were finishing better. We have had games where we created a lot more chances and we just did not put them in the back of the net. We still can finish more, but I think that this is confidence building for us.”
Watch out for Red Bank as they look to continue their season strong and hope to keep up their ability to score and put up multiple numbers against their opponents.
Game Summary:
Red Bank 3 3 --6
CSLA 1 2 --3
Goal Scorers:
Red Bank- Malachi Stephenson 3, Joseph Thompson, Estuardo Rabanales, Fransisco Garcia; CSLA- Conner Tate 2, Micheal Hirschel.
Assists:
Red Bank- Rakan Abu-Hijleh, Estuardo Rabanales; CSLA- Alejandro Bougrat.
(Email Alex McElyea at alexmcelyea26@gmail.com)