GMHS Boys Varsity Soccer Earn Their Spot at Radford

The Mustangs Boys Varsity team defeated the Mathews Blue Devils Tuesday night, garnering a slot in the State Semi Finals in Radford.

The Mustangs came out slow, not scoring until the 26^th minute when Freshman Eion Oosterbaan brought the ball down the left sideline and dished it off to Nick Smirniotopoulos. Smirniotopoulos faked to the right and then found the back of the net.

The Blue Devils refused to fall behind when, only a few plays later, they pushed through the Mustang defense and slammed the ball into the back of the net to tie the game.

Smirniotopoulos retaliated, bringing the ball down the left sideline, beating a defender, and then placing the ball in the bottom right corner to give the Mustangs the lead.

The Blue Devils were then given the opportunity to tie the game again when they were awarded a penalty kick in the Mustangs’ box. The shot went to the bottom left corner but Mustang goal keeper Tyler Back was able to jump on it, ending the first half with a score of 2-1.

Mustang Head Coach Arthur Iwaniki applauded, “Tyler kept us in the game the first half.”

The Mustangs dominated the second half, possessing the ball in their attacking third and taking multiple shots. Within the first two minutes the Mustangs added to their lead when Jordan Robarge sent a ball to Andrew Arias at the 20 yard line. Arias pounded the ball into the top left corner of the goal.

The Mustang offensive onslaught continued when Jack Cashin received a throw-in. He chucked the ball to Jon Brooks, who headed the ball. The ball reached Alex Casteuble, who was waiting at the back post and tapped it in.

The final goal was scored when Teddy Rueckert gave the ball to Smirniotopoulos, who finished the game with a hat trick.

The Mustangs won 5-1, advancing to the Semis to be held Friday, June 3^rd at Radford. The boys’ game will be played against Stonewall Jackson High at 4p.m

Although the Mustangs beat Stonewall 3-1 in last Friday’s Regional Championship game, Senior defender and co-captain Anthony Andrianarison noted, “We need to come out strong in the first half because we have been coming out slow in the past few games, like we did against Stonewall. We need to bring it from the beginning and put it away early.”

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.

More on Mason Boys Soccer Win Over Wilson Memorial

By Jon Brooks

The Boys Varsity Soccer team defeated Wilson Memorial in a “win or go home”
regional match on Monday, May 25.

The Mustangs put away their first goal just 10 minutes into the game, when
Mustang Senior Jack Cashin received a throw-in at the six yard line. His throw
reached Andrew Arias at the back post who headed the ball into the top left
corner of the goal.

The Mustangs continued to dominate the majority of the first half, winning 50/50
balls and pressuring the Hornets’ defense. The first half ended with a score of
1-0.

In the second half the Mustangs scored again off of a throw-in. Jack Cashin
hurled the ball to the six yard line where Senior midfielder Jon Brooks was
able to get a head on the ball, sending it over the goal keeper’s head and into
the upper right 90. The goal gave the Mustangs added momentum but they were
unable to beat the Hornets’ defense again, and finished the match with a score
of 2-0.

The Mustangs play their next regional game tonight (Wednesday, May 27) against Nelson
County. The game is at 6 PM at Nelson.

Mustang Jack Cashin says, “I think we have a good chance coming into the match
against Nelson County. Obviously the travel factor will weigh against us, but I
think we can come out on top.”