NEWPORT – The defense took it to another level last week for the Hazen Union boys soccer team, pitching a pair of shutouts against Division I North Country and Division II Lyndon Institute to improve to 3-0-1.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Kobe Smith, Morgan Michaud, and Jeter Demers each found the back of the net for the Wildcats last Monday in a resounding 3-0 road win over North Country. Smith gave Hazen a 1-0 lead heading into the break, beating Falcons keeper Gus Comtois with a low-driving shot that grazed the inside of the left post from the top of the box. Michaud and Demers kept the pressure on with timely counterattacks to end the scoring in the second half to seal one of the biggest wins for the Wildcat program in years. Grayson McNaughten made 11 saves, many of the spectacular variety to post the second straight shutout for the Hazen defense. Comtois stopped three shots in the loss as the Falcons fell to 1-3.
“We had a competitive match with them last year and we were optimistic going in. North Country dominated the first 20 minutes, but Grayson was outstanding back there to keep the score level at 0-0. After we got the lead, we tried to slow the game down, keep the ball in front of us, and successfully stop any potential attacks. We did a good job absorbing their pressure and keeping play on the wings to find counterattacks. Grayson played well above a typical high school goalkeeper, making multiple diving saves, being aggressive coming off his line, and communicating with his defense. His 11 saves does not account for the dozen times he ran to the edges off the box to clear out through balls or crosses,” said head coach Harry Besett.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Ari Jurkiewicz provided the game winner and McNaughten was a brick wall for a third straight match on Wednesday as the Wildcats outlasted the Vikings at home 1-0 in overtime. Nineteen seconds into overtime, Jurkiewicz caught Lyndon keeper Colin Gray off guard with a perfectly placed chip shot from the right side of the box for the walk off win. McNaughten made 8 more stops for his third straight shutout. The only goal McNaughten and the Wildcat defense have conceded this season was on a penalty shot in their season opener against Lamoille. Gray made 12 stops for Lyndon as they fell to 0-4.
“Lyndon is significantly improved from last year and played a very strong match. Both teams created scoring chances that narrowly missed the back of the net in regulation. We did a good job executing a combination of quick passes on the right wing to start the overtime and Ari’s lofted shot seemed to drift almost in slow motion perfectly tucked inside the top corner. We came out determined to put pressure on their defense to start the extra period,” said Besett.
The Wildcats travelled to perennial powerhouse Stowe on Tuesday and will welcome Spaulding to Hudson Fields on Friday. They are scheduled to hit the road once again for a match-up against Lake Region next Monday. All home games can be streamed on Hardwick Community Television (hctv.us).
