The Switzerland Pacer boys soccer team has kicked off its season with three games during the past week.
– The Pacers opened their season last Thursday, August 19th, with a 1-1 tie against the Scottsburg Warriors.
Pacer coach Brian Grigsby said that the game began with both teams moving the ball down the field well; with the Warriors striking first with a goal late in the first half.
Mid-way through the second half, Switzerland County’s Anthony Dasis sent a high crossing ball to teammate Josh Yeary, who put it in the side netting with a diving header.
Coach Grigsby said that keeper Garrett Schulz made an acrobatic save late in the second half to keep the Pacers in the game.
The game ended without either team finding the game winning goal.
– The Pacer team took on Austin last Friday night, coming away with a 4-0 victory.
Anthony Dasis opened up the scoring in the first half with a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that beat Austin’s keeper.
The Pacers continued to press the action in the second half with Anthony Dasis scoring again. Freshman Richie Lay scored his first varsity goal when he followed up on one of Jesse Bailey’s shots that the keeper bobbled.
Josh Yeary then finished the scoring for the Pacers by sinking a penalty kick after being taken down in the box.
– The Switzerland County team suffered its first defeat on Monday of this week at the hands of the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles by a score of 2-1 in a nail biting shoot-out.
The game was a stalemate after 80 minutes of back and forth action by both teams. Coach Grigsby praised the play of his defense: Steven Craig, Brady Scudder, Zack Daugherty, Logan Todd, and Dylan Griffith. Those players, along with goalkeeper Garrett Schulz – who had nine saves in the game – made a wall that the Eagles had difficulty getting past.
With a 0-0 score at the end of regulation, the game went to a shoot-out. Garrett Schulz kept the Pacers alive making two very difficult diving saves. The Pacers failed to capitalize on the advantage though, with Josh Yeary being the only Pacer to score in the shoot-out, making the final score 2-1.
The Pacers will be in action again tonight (Thursday) at Rising Sun. Game time is at 5 p.m.