GMHS Mustang Boys Win Region B Championship

by Jonathan Brooks

The Mustangs Boys Varsity Soccer team brought home the Region B trophy Friday night after defeating Stonewall Jackson’s Generals in Quicksburg.

After a two hour bus ride the Mustangs came out slow and the Generals dominated the first 15 minutes of the match with strong possession in the Mustangs’ defending third. But at the 20 minute mark the Mustangs stepped up and were able to put through several balls between the Generals’ defensive line, creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities.

The Mustangs scored their first goal when the ball was brought up by defender Anthony Andrianarison, who put the ball into the box. When the Generals’ goal keeper was knocked over by his own player, the ball was left undefended in the middle of the box, and Andrew Arias seized the opportunity to slam it into the back left corner of the goal, ending the first half with a score of 1-0.

The game was far from over when, ten minutes into the second half, the Generals brought the ball down the center of the field and broke through the Mustangs’ defense. The ball was shot and goal keeper Tyler Back was able to get both hands on it, but it slipped past him, hitting the bottom left post and rebounding into the goal to tie the match.

The Mustangs soon retaliated, when Nick Smirniotopoulos took on three of the Generals’ defenders, and then blasted the ball into the bottom right corner, giving the Mustangs the lead.

The Mustangs solidified their lead when Mustang freshman Eion Oosterbaan brought the ball down the left sideline and crossed the ball on the ground to Erik Nelson. Nelson beat the Generals’ goal keeper to the ball and smashed it into the bottom left corner of the goal to finish the game at 3-1 Mason.

The Mustangs will play at home on Tuesday, June 2^nd at 7:00pm against Mathews High School, the Region A runner-up. The game will be a double header with the Mason’s Regional Champion girl’s team, which plays at 5:00pm.

The Mason squad is determined to make it all the way to Radford this year, noting their near miss last year. Senior Captain Anthony Andrianarison said, “We won’t let what happened last year in the states quarter final happen again this year.”

Thanks to Tracy Back for the photos.  More of her photos from this game are available online.