By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School boys soccer team scored two late goals to defeat Allen East 3-1 on Saturday, August 24.
Ada improved to 3-1 with the victory, while AE fell to 0-2 after the loss.
“We controlled the game and they capitalized on our one mistake,” said Ada head coach Aaron Acheson.
Sophomore Andrew Allen scored the first Ada goal on an assist from Nathan Williams with eight minutes left in the first half. Williams played the ball from about 30 yards out to Max Puerto, and Puerto touched it back to Williams.
He cut the ball left to Allen, who finished with a goal past AE keeper Cam Cosart into the far post corner.
AE tied it on a goal off a Bulldog ball handling miscue. Mustang senior Garrett Jennings picked off a pass sent back toward the Ada goal, deked a defender and put it past the keeper from 15 yards out to knot it up 1-1 heading to the halftime break.
“It was a learning moment for us for sure,” said Acheson. “Jennings made a great hustle play.”
The game was still tied 1-1 when a Bulldog shot went just wide left off the diving Mustang keeper’s hand with just over 31 minutes left. The ensuing corner kick came up dry.
Ada senior Williams shot wide left with 29:18 remaining. The Bulldogs had a chance to score on a loose ball scrum in front of the AE net with 26:15 to go, but couldn’t punch it in.
A Bulldog shot on goal was saved at the 14:11 mark. Then with 7:52 remaining, Ada senior Logan Jolliff took a pass from Allen and directed a midfield shot into the left side of the net from about 17 yards out to break the tie.
“We played the ball wider, and it opened things up for us in the middle,” Acheson explained.
AE came back with a shot that went off the post with seven minutes left. Ada responded with a counter-attack, but couldn’t score.
With 4:03 left, Williams was fouled hard in the box, and he easily converted a penalty kick into the lower right corner of the net past a frozen Cosart to give Ada a big insurance goal and a 3-1 lead.
Cosart made a nice save of a Bulldog shot on goal with 1:11 left to keep the final margin to two.
“Evan Miller had a strong game for us in midfield,” Acheson noted. “He made some really good decisions with the ball at his feet. He kept his cool throughout, and showed mental toughness to finish strong for us.”
Ada put 20 shots on goal, while AE directed just three shots on target.
Rush made two saves in goal for the Bulldogs. Cosart stopped 17 shots.
“We did a good job possessing the ball and completing sequences of passes,” said Acheson. “We moved the ball around and made the extra pass.
“I am happy the kids beat a local rival after losing to them 3-2 last year,” he added. “When we share the ball, we can be a very dangerous team. It was a good bounce-back win after a tough loss to Bath.”
Ada hosts tough Miller City (3-0) Wednesday, August 28 at 7 p.m. A one-half JV game will precede the varsity bout at 6 p.m.
