From Coach Ed Berberich:
The soccer Aces hosted the Princeton Tigers in their season opener Wednesday night, falling behind early and losing 8-1. The Tigers scored 7 goals in the 1st half. They would add a goal in the 2nd but the Aces played them to a draw in the half when Mataio Militoni scored on an assist from Wyatt Howder on a ball crossed into the box from Santiago Guanipa.
This was one game where I feel the score doesn't tell the whole story. That's not meant to take anything away Princeton, they're a strong team & really controlled the game throughout. What was encouraging for us though, were the glimpses of positive things we saw during the game. We weren't able to consistently do what we wanted but we showed flashes. To do that while shorthanded & while we're still working in some new players was encouraging. The guys did a great job of battling throughout the game, regardless of the score & the fact that we only had 2 subs available to us tonight. I'm proud of the whole team for the way they played tonight but do want to shout out Wyatt Rooney who volunteered to fill in at goal for Michael Read, who missed the game due to illness, but who himself had also volunteered to fill in for normal starting goalkeeper Ty Hipsher. Ty was able to play out in the field for us but an injury to his thumb has pushed him out of goal & forced us to look elsewhere at that key position. Michael & Wyatt both volunteered to do it even though neither of them have played goalie before. It means a lot to any team to have guys willing to step up & do something that they haven't done before, & maybe even don't really want to do, especially an inexperienced team like we are. If we continue to be selfless in that way, & play hard out there no matter the sutuation, then I'm going to be proud of these guys regardless of what happens.
The Aces will next be at home again on Thursday September 4th against another strong team in Richland County.