Hopewell Boys Soccer
High School Boys Soccer Recap vs. West Allegheny
In their first scrimmage of the season, both the Hopewell JV and Varsity Boys soccer team faced a tough challenge against West Allegheny.
Despite coming up short, the Vikings showed promise and displayed plenty of things to be excited about for the future.
This scrimmage provided Coach Richter with the opportunity to experiment with players in positions in order to help them adapt to his style of playing and strategize for the upcoming season.
The Vikings JV team played a 40-minute game, during which some early nerves allowed West Allegheny to score within the first two minutes off an unlucky bounce. However, the Vikings tightened up their defense for the remainder of the game. Elijah Persi-Jones and goalie Aiden Erickson were standouts for the defense, with Erickson making around 12 saves to keep the game close. Offensively, Hopewell struggled to find the back of the net, including a missed opportunity of a free kick from the 25-yard line.
The Varsity team followed with two 35-minue halves. West Allegheny scored three goals in the first half, including the opening goal at the 17-minute mark.
A huge defensive moment came when RJ Bushnell completed a crucial header save in the goalie box, preventing another goal. Despite several promising passing sequences, the Vikings were unable to convert their chances into goals.
The second half opened with another goal from West Allegheny, but the Vikings continued to press with their passing game, showing resilience and determination to make their mark on the scoreboard. Their efforts paid off when John Sakson made an outstanding pass from the 45-yard line to Bryce Ray, who successfully put in the first goal for the Vikings.
This moment of offensive success was a bright spot in the scrimmage, demonstrating the teams potential as they look ahead to the season.
The Vikings will have another scrimmage this Tuesday night against Freedom at Tony Dorsett Stadium. Opening kick is set for 6:30 PM.
