Tue Feb 07 2012
By KEVIN LYNCH
Staff Writer
If the season-opening win over Madison is any indication, the West Holmes boys soccer team is going to have a promising season.
Andrew Vaccariello, one of several juniors on the squad, scored three times to lead the Knights past the Rams 3-1 last Tuesday at West Holmes.
"We lost eight letterwinners from last year, but we have a large junior class stepping in to fill the holes," said second-year coach Nic Fioritto. "We have spent the past year talking about making smart decisions on the field. These guys are athletic enough to compete in every game, but we have to make smart decisions with the ball."
Against Madison, the smart decision was to get the ball to Vaccariello.
The junior midfielder controlled a loose ball that was pin-balling around in front of the net and rifled a shot past the Rams' keeper with 5:30 remaining in the first half.
Madison got the equalizer midway through the second half.
"When they tied it, I was wondering how we'd respond," Fioritto said. "We didn't fold. We stayed strong and kept plugging at it. I was proud of the guys. They didn't give in when they easily could've."
Junior keeper Marshall Overholt made a nice save on a Madison breakaway a few minutes later.
That save seemed to fire up the Knights, who got a breakaway of their own. Senior Brendan Lynch headed a pass to Vaccariello who found the back of the net at 19:22 to put West Holmes up 2-1.
Vaccariello sealed the deal with an insurance goal at 7:41.
"Last year we went into their place and lost 3-1. This year, we returned the favor," Fioritto said. "It was a good victory to get our guys some confidence. I tell them all the time, they can play in any game, but it takes some victories for them to realize it.
"Andrew played well, but it took the other guys to get him the ball," Fioritto added.
Fioritto likes the team speed the Knights possess this year.
Senior Matthew Hughes and juniors Collin Galbraith and Bryce Rohrer give the Knights quickness and scoring punch. Antonio Quinteros is another talented player up front, while senior Ricky Guerra is the last line of defense before Overholt.
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