Highland, Ill – Senior Brett Langley punched home a penalty kick in the 36th minute of the first half for the deciding goal in Collinsville’s 1-0 victory Wednesday over Highland.
Senior Brett Langley controls the ball against Highland in the Kahoks 1-0 victory on Sept. 3, 2014 / Photo by Roger Starkey
The call that put Langley on the penalty mark for the game winner may have been a bit soft in a physical game played by both sides. Collinsville Head Coach Myles Hensler said he did not expect the call.
“There were multiple times that both teams were scrapping and grabbing,” Hensler said. “I know the referee was looking into the sun, but we were fortunate to get the call and put it away to come out with the 1-0 victory.”
The game was to be the fourth for the Kahok soccer team, but heat, lightening and rain delayed the start of Collinsville’s season by 10 days. The team often looked like it was playing its first game.
“It was really important for us to get that first game, to get our legs going and get into that game situation,” Hensler said. “I think we were a little sluggish in the beginning and it picked up a bit, but not to the level it should have been, to be honest.”
Highland (1-3), playing in its fourth game of the season, was on its heels much of the first half as the Kahoks (1-0) dominated possession. The Bulldogs fought back in the second half and created several chances.
“Highland did really well,” Hensler said. “They have a couple of good players and they did a good job of keeping the space small for us and defended well.”
Collinsville had five corners in the game, including three in the opening half that led to shots on goal. Junior Mason Kelly had two close-range chances that were gobbled up by the goalkeeper.
The game marked the successful return of Langley and fellow senior Jordan Smith to the Kahok program. Smith beat the goalkeeper twice, once in each half, but ended the game scoreless.
At the 28-minute mark of the first, Smith smashed a shot past the goalkeeper who was off his mark, but a Bulldog defender saved the goal. In the games’ closing minutes, Smith sprinted out on a breakaway and poked the ball past the goalkeeper who had come out to challenge the play. But the ball went wide of the net and too deep, forcing Smith to make a sliding shot just before the ball reached the end line. The attempt went off the side of the net and Smith’s subsequent play into the middle found only Highland defenders.
The officials spent the better part of the afternoon whistling the Kahoks offside, including negating a goal by Tanner Przybysz nine minutes from full time.
Collinsville will play its second game in two days when it hosts Missouri powerhouse Christian Brothers College High School at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Kahok Stadium.
