The Collinsville High School boys soccer team hung with the 25th ranked team in the country for 58 minutes Wednesday, before Chaminade reeled off three goals in six minutes on their way to a 5-0 victory.
Kahoks Head Coach Myles Hensler said fatigue may have been a factor for Collinsville (3-5-1 overall, 1-2 Southwestern Conference), who were playing their second game in as many nights. Collinsville’s spirit may have been broken, also, after the second goal, Hensler said.
Junior Grant Bauer makes a run on goal / Photo by Roger Starkey
“Obviously we can’t have that. You’re going to be one or two goals down, you have continue to fight and battle regardless of how much time is left or who you’re playing,” Hensler said. “I don’t think our team handled that very well today, and that’s why a title wave of goals came.”
Chaminade (6-2) junior forward Kenny Massa scored the Red Devils’ first goal nine minutes and 29 seconds into the match. The remainder of the half was an evenly played defensive struggle.
Both teams continued stellar defensive play until 21:50 remained, when Massa scored his second goal, knocking home a loose ball in a crowd. The Red Devils third goal followed 1:03 later when Junior midfielder Jacob Pesek beat Niedzwiecki from distance, hammering the ball into the top corner of the goal.
The Kahoks appeared deflated following the third goal. The defense, which had played very well to that point, began allowing multiple easy tries in front of the net.
The score ran to 4-0 a short time later when Niedzwiecki left a rebound in front of the goal and Junior midfielder Bo Reis tapped it home.
Senior midfielder Joey Hubble capped the scoring when he converted a penalty kick with 3:31remaining in the game.
The Kahoks were not able to generate any offense in the contest. “We played well defensively, but could not connect a pass to save our lives,” Hensler said. “We didn’t have any offensive threats. Our overall composure on the ball was not very good at all.”
Collinsville next plays at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Saint Louis University High at St. Louis Soccer Park.
