Above) Bulldog seniors honored at War Memorial Stadium
By Cort Reynolds
ADA __ The Ada High School boys soccer team manhandled Lincolnview 6-0 in the regular season finale Thursday evening, October 10, to commemorate Senior Night in style at War Memorial Stadium.
Ada improved to 13-4 after the commanding victory to finish what is probably the best Bulldog boys regular season in 20 years.
Lincolnview dropped to 4-11-2 with the defeat.
“All five seniors were involved in creating scoring opportunities for us tonight,” said Bulldog first-year head coach Aaron Acheson. “I am happy for the kids.”
The Bulldogs scored first with 23 minutes left in the opening half. Senior Max Puerto netted the initial goal on an assist from junior Joshua Thaxton. The scoring sequence started with a nice pass by Jacob Henson to Nathan Williams out wide.
Senior Williams then served a long cross that switched the field for a good cutback ball from Thaxton to Puerto.
“It was good to see Max get the scoring started,” said Acheson. “I loved the way players moved the ball to open things up for us to have space to score.”
Sophomore Andrew Allen then doubled the lead with 10 minutes left before intermission. He made a nice play with some good touches on the ball at his feet to find space and score to provide a 2-0 lead.
Williams then scored on a rebound shot with 1:52 left in the first half to stretch the margin to 3-0. Senior Luke Archer made a couple good touches and took a hard shot that deflected off a Lancer player, and Williams was there to knock in the deflection.
“Luke had good touches on the ball and made some really good decisions with the ball,” said the coach. “He was in good position.”
In the second half, Allen made a nice run but had his shot blocked with 34 minutes left.
Williams then drew a crowd in the middle of the field and when the ball was jarred loose, senior Logan Jolliff was there to boot a 20-yard shot into the lower right corner of the net.
The goal made it 4-0 Ada with 33:12 left in the game.
The Bulldogs almost scored two minutes later on a pretty pass and header, but the shot went just over the crossbar.
Another shot just missed when Allen’s blast went just high over the goal.
A pretty left-footed, left side shot by freshman Will Mosler sailed just wide of the left post at the 28-minute mark.
Sophomore Carson Conley made some good runs down the sideline to create gaps for Ada in the middle of the pitch. It paid off when Conley played a fine cross to Williams, whose shot hit the right post and ricocheted to the other side before crossing the goal line for a 5-0 lead.
Puerto launched a 30-yard shot from midfield, but it was grabbed at the 19:11 juncture. Willimas drilled a shot from 31 yards out that the Lancer keeper deflected past the goal line with a fine diving effort.
On the ensuing corner kick, Williams took a short pass from Evan Miller and nailed a left side shot that was saved nicely with 17:12 left.
With 13:30 to play, Williams dished a nice lead pass to Ty Mowery for a good left side shot from 12 yards out, but again the keeper came up with a fine lunging save.
With 5:33 remaining, the Lancer keeper made another diving deflection of a good Williams shot. But Mowery was on the doorstep by the left post and poked in the rebound shot from two yards four ticks later out to extend the lead to 6-0.
It was Mowery’s first goal of the season. “Ty was really wanting to score a goal for his team tonight,” said Acheson.
At the three-minute mark, speedy Jolliff stole a pass and stutter-stepped to his right for a 22-yard shot from the center, but it went over the goal.
Jolliff now has 27 goals this season after scoring once. Allen tallied his 21st goal of the season.
Williams netted two goals to give him 13 on the season. He also extended his program record for assists in a season to 26 with one helper.
Ada goalkeeper Rush made one save. The Lancer keeper was credited with nine tough saves as the Bulldogs fired 15 shots on goal.
The Bulldog reserves lost 2-0 to visiting Arlington in the nightcap.
Five impactful Bulldog seniors – Jolliff, Williams, Mowery, Puerto and Archer - were recognized prior to the varsity match.
“I have enjoyed coaching these five seniors,” said Acheson. “It has been an honor to work with them. They have been a lot of fun to coach.
“They love soccer and love the team,” he continued. “I am so thankful for each one of them. They will be missed for sure. We are all happy and looking forward to tournaments.”
Second-seeded Ada hosts backyard rival Allen East (1-13-1) in first round sectional tournament play Saturday, Oct. 19 at noon.
