The Parry McCluer High School coed soccer team suffered a pair of home losses last week, falling 9-1 to Pioneer District rival Narrows last Tuesday before losing 8-0 to Alleghany Boys Home of Virginia on Thursday.
With the setbacks, the Fighting Blues fell to 0-6-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the district.
The Green Wave (5-9-0 overall, 2-1 district), a team that had beaten PM 7-1 in their April 14 meeting at Narrows, took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the rematch. The Blues then switched to a 4-4-2 formation, featuring four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers, which made their backline stronger.
The Green Wave scored one more goal before PM’s A.J. Roberts took the ball on the right outside and moved to the center, then firing a shot and scoring from about 18 yards out. Narrows responded with a goal before halftime to extend its lead to 4-1.
In the second half, PM head coach Chuck Rice said, the Blues got worn down, and Narrows used the depth on its bench to take over the game, scoring five more goals. The game ended with 20 minutes left due to the eightgoal mercy rule.
PM freshman goalkeeper Cameron Glass “played a great game,” according to his coach, making 12 saves.
“Our defense is getting stronger and playing the ball more outside to give our offense more opportunities to try and score.”
ABH 8, PM 0
PM played well on the backline against Alleghany Boys Home of Virginia on Thursday, but the Bears’ constant pressure and athleticism “was a little too much for our Blues,” said Rice.
Alleghany, which had beaten PM 10-1 in PM’s season opener on April 9 in Covington, scored three goals in the first 20 minutes and added another goal late in the first half to go up 4-0. Rice said PM defenders Jackson Haynes and Seven Medina “really stepped up to make some great defensive stops of the speedier Boys Home players.”
In the second half, Alleghany played the ball more quickly and passed the ball well to set up scores. The game ended with 20 minutes left due to the mercy rule.
In goal, Glass made nine saves. The Blues were scheduled to play at district rival Eastern Montgomery on Monday and will conclude the regular season when they play host to Eastern Montgomery tonight, Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. Before the game, the Blues will honor their lone senior, Gabe Osorio.
