Defense propels the Academy over Dragons
By Adam Sickmiller
Pilot Correspondent
CULVER - The Culver Military Academy Eagles used a quick start and a strong defensive effort to defeat the Argos Dragons 5-1 in boys soccer action Thursday night.
“Our pressure and team speed helped us out a lot tonight,” CMA coach Jim Brugh said at the end of the contest. “We were able to keep the pressure on them for the entire game, and keep them from getting good looks at the goal.”
The Eagles started the game with a relentless, aggressive attack that the Dragons were unable to contain. Ebube Agu scored the first CMA goal when he received a corner kick from Enrique Ituarte, and hit a header past Argos keeper Brandon Wagers.
Argos had a difficult time mounting any offensive attack in the first half, managing only one shot on goal. Much of the credit goes to the pressure applied to the Argos forwards by the CMA defenders. Argos was also slowed on offense by injuries to key players, playing without two starters while two other starters were playing at less than 100 percent.
“We were hurt tonight by our lack of depth,”
Argos head coach Myron Bontreger said. “It also didn't help us that this
is our third game since Saturday. We came out sluggish while they came out
fresh. That was a big difference in this game. I'm proud of the way our
kids fought in the second half. They didn't give up.”
CMA would strike again in the eighth minute of the game, with Agu once
again doing the damage.
After taking the ball from the left side, Agu fired it into the net,
putting the Eagles up 2-0.
The Eagles would score one more goal before halftime off the foot of
Roberto Garcia.
The Dragons played sharper in the second half. They were more aggressive
on offense, getting three shots on goal.
The only score on the night for the Dragons came
from Josh Overmyer on a penalty kick. Eagle goalkeeper Jonathan Mason
guessed left and Overmyer put the shot in the right side of the net for
the goal.
The Eagles would answer with two more goals in the second half to put the
game out of reach.
Nick Jakubowski took advantage of a one-on-one with the Dragon keeper to
score a goal to put the Eagles up 4-1. The final goal of the night came
from Garcia. He connected on a long shot to the upper left corner of the
goal to set the final score of the game at 5-1.
CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY 5, ARGOS 1
At Culver
First Half
C - Ebu Agu (Enrique Ituarte) 2nd minute.
C - Agu 5th minute.
C - Roberto Garcia 18th minute.
Second Half
A - Josh Overmyer (Penalty Kick) 52nd minute.
C - Nick Joakubowski 70th minute.
C - Roberto Garcia 73rd minute.
Shots on Goal: CMA 11; Argos 5.
Saves: CMA 4 (Jonathan Mason); Argos 6 (Brandon Wagers).
Corner Kicks: CMA 6 (Yellow Card - Graham Zimmerman); Argos 1.
Fouls: CMA 15; Argos 13.
Records: CMA 8-6-1; Argos 6-5-2.
JV Score: Argos 2, CMA 2