Trinity dominates in 6-3 win
Feb. 28—TRINITY — Trinity quickly took control and raced away.
The Bulldogs scored the first two goals of the match — including the opener within the first five minutes — then built a five-goal lead into the second half and held on to beat archrival Wheatmore 6-3 in PAC-7 2A boys soccer Saturday afternoon at Wheatmore.
"We were really able to build confidence off the early goals," Trinity coach Nathan Sink said. "With our team, confidence is really a big thing. I was really proud of them the way they were able to score goals in spurts.
"Throughout this year, we'll usually score a goal and give up a goal, score a goal and give up a goal. But today we were at least able to hold a lead for a good amount of time and finish the game strong."
Logan Fleming scored two goals for the Bulldogs (4-1-1 overall, 4-1-1 conference), who led 3-1 at halftime and 6-1 nearly halfway through the second half. Brendon Jenkins, Moises Ventura, Garon Parris and Seth Foster each had one goal, while Quinton O'Hara had an assist.
"To come in here and play this well with the whole team, it feels pretty great — I'm not going to lie to you," Fleming said with a smile. "It feels pretty good."
Trinity opened the scoring with a ball up the middle and out wide for a low shot in the fifth minute, then added another in the 26th minute on a ball that came back into the box for a header in front for a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors answered in the 27th minute off a corner kick, but the Bulldogs bounced back in the 33rd minute, finishing in front after a long free kick was stopped but stayed in play just along the goal line.
Trinity then pulled away on a flurry of three goals in three minutes — in the 53rd minute off a throw-in that deflected out in front, in the 55th minute off another throw-in that ended up in front, and in the 56th minute off a corner kick.
"We played pretty well, played as a team," Fleming said. "We kept the ball on the ground, kept passing. We kept it to the outside of the field, trying to make it to our midfield and get it back up to the strikers."
Jagur Williams had a goal and an assist for Wheatmore (3-2-1), which tied the Bulldogs 1-1 in both teams' season-opener Jan. 30 at Trinity. Collin Burgess and Ian Miller each added a goal, and Kooper Grant had an assist.
"They wanted it a little more than we did," Warriors coach Rick Maness said. "Coming in, before the game our touches were good and we were really warming up nice. But that didn't carry over far enough. ...
"I thought at the very end we had energy," he added. "But we were way under their level of play. That's the story every time — whoever wins the 50/50s and whoever attacks the ball the hardest is going to win the game. And they did."
Wheatmore had an opportunity to shift the momentum when it scored in the 27th minute to pull within one. But the Bulldogs getting that one back and then quickly scoring three in the second half essentially sealed the outcome.
The Warriors scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute, following a handball in the box, and again in the 78th minute off a shot, save and rebound in front. But it wasn't enough to overcome their deficit.
"Those goals — four, five and six came real fast," Maness said. "That lull right there, and then we picked it up. We're just not quite deep enough to match up. We had matchup problems today, and that's been our problem the whole year.
"But we still have a lot of soccer to play."
Logan May made eight saves for Trinity, which outshot Wheatmore 21-15 for the match. Nick Galloway, who was briefly replaced by Austin Poplin, made six saves for the Warriors.
With the regular season already winding down — just two weeks remain — both teams play again Monday. Wheatmore visits Providence Grove, while the Bulldogs travel to Jordan-Matthews.
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