By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
It is an extreme understatement to say that the Fluco boys’ soccer team is off to a strong start. They have played three games, as of this article, and they have outscored their opponents 20-1. Obviously, they are 3-0.
In their most recent game, on March 27, they hosted Madison County. The Flucos were in control the entire game as their offense consistently pressured the Mountaineers, and their defense disrupted all scoring attempts.
The game started with the Flucos controlling the ball and keeping it in the Mountaineers end. Eight minutes in, junior forward Sean Southall converted the Flucos first goal off a nice pass from junior Cayden Lucas. Sixteen minutes later, sophomore Gavin Underwood scored on a hard shot that the goalie had no chance of stopping. The Flucos were controlling the ball very well as their defenders sent precise passes to each other, reversing the field in hopes of setting up additional scoring chances. As time wound down in the first half, it looked like the Flucos would only lead 2-0 at the break but with less than two minutes remaining senior Ivan Patchett launched a long “Bend it like Beacham” shot from far out that bent perfectly into the upper left corner of the net. It was probably at least a one in fifty shot, but beautiful nonetheless. As a result it was 3-0 at the half.
After eight minutes of play in the second half, the Flucos nearly made it 4-0 as a shot bounced off the post. With ten minutes gone in the second half, Patchett made it 4-0 as he scored again, this time on a header, off a nice pass. At the 19 minute mark, junior Hadon Hartung finished the scoring by guiding a shot into goal on an open shot after the ball rebounded from the cross-bar.
The Flucos played juniors Logan Bishop and Brennan Chiovaro in goal and neither was really tested. In addition to Lucas’ assist on the first goal, assists were also recorded by juniors Brady Crisp and John Gretz.
After the game, Coach Jason Davis lauded his team and especially defenders Crisp and junior Luke Manzano who are both big and fast and athletic. The Madison County attackers simply could not get past these two. Davis states that his team has some depth and that his players have “embraced competing for playing time.” He also pointed out that the Flucos still haven’t met up with a Jefferson District opponent and he believes that the Jefferson District is “the best boys’ soccer district in the state.”
The Fluco boys do not play again until April 8 due to spring break. On that date they begin their Jefferson District schedule traveling to Charlottesville. On April 10, they will host Albemarle. On April 15, they travel to Western Albemarle and on April 17 they will host Orange County.
