Facing the top two teams in the Shenandoah District, the Rockbridge County High School boys soccer team suffered a pair of shutout losses last week, falling 5-0 at home against Staunton last Tuesday before losing 3-0 at Waynesboro on Friday.
With the setbacks, the Wildcats fell to 6-4-0, both overall and in the district.
Against Staunton (9-2-0 overall, 9-1-0 district), the Wildcats struggled against a talented all-around team, as the Storm raced to a 4-0 halftime lead, on the way to snapping the Wildcats’ five-game winnings streak.
RC’s defense held Staunton to one goal in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Patrick De Marcellus played the entire game and made 11 saves for the Wildcats.
Giving credit to the Storm, who had beaten the Wildcats 2-0 on March 26 in Staunton, RC head coach Jeffrey Tomlin said, “Staunton’s a really tough team. I expected them to play very hard. I’ll just give really big props to them. They’re super organized, super disciplined in what they want to do.”
“They know exactly what their system is, and they’re really bought into it,” added Tomlin. “When you face a team that’s just super bought into what they want to do, it’s tough to break them down, and we had a really hard time breaking them down tonight.”
The RC coach said the Wildcats “could’ve played better tonight. I thought we could’ve had a better chance, but some tough goals go in, momentum starts to swing, and it’s really hard to come back from that. What Staunton does kind of plays into that. When Staunton gets one [goal], they really want to trap you in your half, and it’s hard to break out of that.”
WHS 3, RC 0
On Friday at Waynesboro (111-0 overall and district), the game was scoreless until the final 15 minutes.
“We started the game really well,” said Tomlin. “We really drilled the guys on team defense this week.”
The Wildcats’ best chance to score was late in the first half when defender Brennan Roeder took a free kick that went off teammate Parker Fountain’s head and narrowly went over the goal. Tomlin said Fountain and Charlie Cosgriff “were really good in the midfield” throughout the game.
Waynesboro, which had beaten the Wildcats 3-0 on March 31 in Lexington, scored the first goal of Friday’s game when Aluscio Casas got the ball after a free kick and put it in the goal with about 15 minutes left. The Little Giants then scored two more goals in the last 12 minutes.
In goal for the Wildcats, senior Jacob Wallace played the first half and made four saves, and De Marcellus played the second half and made four saves.
Proud of his team’s performance, Tomlin said, “I thought it was a great game for us, and the guys got to see what it takes to compete in the district.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to play host to Stuarts Draft last night and will continue district action at Buffalo Gap on Thursday, with the 5:30 p.m. varsity boys’ game preceding the girls’ game. RC will have a nondistrict varsity doubleheader on Monday, starting with the boys’ game at 5:30 p.m. RC will be installing artificial turf on its home field, likely starting next week. The Wildcats will likely play their home game against district rival Wilson Memorial next Tuesday at The Fields at Southern Virginia University, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m., with the varsity game scheduled to follow at 7.
A STAUNTON player leaps to stop the ball while RC senior midfielder Noah Alexander (12) guards him. Waiting on defense are Wildcats Jonathan Soriano Caceres (4), Colin Caputo (17) and Jonathan Whitten (18). (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
RC SENIOR goalkeeper Patrick De Marcellus leaps to try to stop a shot by Staunton’s John Dean (5). Playing defense are Wildcats Parker Fountain (9) and Brennan Roeder (6). De Marceluls made 11 saves. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
