Sunday, October 21, 2012
By Tom Williams
AUSTINTOWN
Nate Bowlen’s scoring skills made sure the Fitch High boys soccer team’s dream of a perfect season remained alive.
The Falcons’ junior forward netted three goals in their tournament opener on Saturday, a 5-0 victory over Massillon Perry at Falcon Stadium.
Bowlen’s first goal came less than five minutes into the game, shortly after goalkeeper Nick Sheely punted the ball past midfield. Keanu Shelton knocked the ball down to set up a quick break for Bowlen.
“He headed it down and it hit his knee,” Bowlen said. “It bounced off him and I was right behind him and put [my shot] left.
“That early goal is very important, especially in [playoff] games,” Bowlen said. “If you get a lead, momentum is key.”
That was the only goal of the first half as the pesky Panthers (9-8) and goalkeeper Alex Barnhart limited the Falcons’ (17-0) scoring chances.
The second half was a completely different story. Two minutes in, Bowlen fired a high shot that landed behind Barnhart into the top corner of the net.
“That was a cross [pass], I’ll admit it, and luckily it went in — I won’t take credit,” Bowlen said.
Seven minutes later, Ken Kilpatrick’s free kick set up the Falcons’ third goal. Two Panthers blocked Kilpatrick’s shot and the ball bounced to wide-open Alex Smith who scored.
Shelton and Bowlen had the other goals.
Sheely made four of the Falcons’ five saves in the team’s 11th shutout of the season.
The goalkeeper credited “this new defensive system we’re playing. Also, I haven’t had to do much, so it’s all a credit to the front four in front of me.”
Sheely and defenders Kilpatrick, Casey O’Brien and Tony Mortaro also are on the Fitch football team (8-1) who are preparing to play Cardinal Mooney (3-5) on Friday.
“It’s going to be a jammed-packed week,” said Sheely who shares kicking duties with Kilpatrick. “It’s going to be more [about] mental focus than physical. We’re down into crunch time and we’ve just got to perform.”
Kilpatrick called the success his teams are having “very exhilarating.
“I thought we would have one letup here or there,” Kilpatrick said of the undefeated soccer team, “but our team chemistry — I guess we’re like glue.”
With two soccer playoff games possible and the revival of the Fitch-Mooney football rivalry, Kilpatrick said, “This is probably going to be the toughest week of the year. [We’ve] just got to focus our hardest.”