BRADFORD – The Twinfield-Cabot-Danville (CCSU) boys’ soccer team ran their unbeaten streak to five games with a hard-fought win over Oxbow and an eye popping 16 goal explosion against Blue Mountain last week.
Samson Kitonga (right) of Caledonia United and Drake Beland (left) of Blue Mountain Union race for possession of the ball in play at the Danville Athletic Complex, September 27. In back (at left) is Landen Fournier of Caledonia United. Caledonia United won 16-0.
Omar Miksik-Knibb scored a pair of goals and Evan Whitehead connected on the game-winner to power Cal United to a 3-2 road win against Oxbow last Tuesday. The freshman forward gave CCSU a 1-0 advantage one minute into the second half before Andrew Barrett answered just four minutes later to make it 1-1. Barrett gave the Olympians a 2-1 lead six minutes later, before Sam McLane found Miksik-Knibb to make it 2-2 for the immediate answer. Whitehead headed home the game-winner off a McLane cross with nine minutes left in regulation and the CCSU defense stiffened behind 10 saves from Josh Petersen.
Oden Schlager made 9 stops for Oxbow as they fell to 3-5.
“It was a great team win! We were much more disciplined in possession than we’ve been recently. It was great to see the combination play in the attack, with Omar and Sam connecting for the second game in a row. It was great to see Evan hammer home Sam’s delivery with a decisive header to ice the game. Josh was excellent again in the net, making several critical saves for us,” said head coach Peter Stratman.
Junior Eli Russell scored five goals and McLane racked up five more assists to lead Cal United to a 16-0 home thumping of Blue Mountain on Friday. McLane also scored twice, along with Miksic-Knibb, Jola Otten, and freshman Judah Klarich. Whitehead and sophomore River Thibault rounded out the scoring on the day for CCSU. Petersen and Oliver Searles earned the combined shutout, the third of the season for the CCSU defense.
The Bucks fell to 0-6 on the season.
Caledonia United’s Evan Whitehead (No. 1) advances the ball as Evan Sanborn (No. 23) of Blue Mountain Union looks to steal, in Danville, Friday. Caledonia United won.
“Eli was outstanding in his center mid position and Sam created lots of different scoring opportunities that led to a good team win. Evan and Jola were also dynamic in holding the middle. Blue Mountain has a very young squad, and they worked hard for 80 minutes. It would have been a better experience for both teams if we had more of our developing players available for the match. We had our subs in and were focusing on moving the ball to practice build up plays instead of relentless attacking. I wish the final score hadn’t been that lopsided, but I’ve been on the other side of those matches as well, and that type of situation is harder to balance than you think. Blue Mountain showed great composure and never gave up,” said Stratman.
Cal United improved to 5-1-1 on the season and up to the third spot in the Division III standings. Stratman’s club is scheduled to travel to Richford on Wednesday and will welcome Enosburg to Danville on Friday. Defending Division IV champion Winooski comes to town on Tuesday.
