×
×
homepage logo

MHS Boys’ Soccer Highlights

By Staff | Sep 2, 2009

After going winless in the 2008 season, the Magnolia Blue Eagle Boys’ Soccer Team started the 2009 season with a convincing 7-1 drubbing of Shenandoah.

Losing key starters from a year ago, Eagle Head Coach Matt Quinet had to find some way to get it through to the boys that they can be a good club if they just do a few things well: play an aggressive style defense; play as a team; share the ball; and if you got it let it fly.

And, that’s what happened Aug. 25 in Shenandoah.

Cali, Columbia, exchange student Juan Carlos “A-1” Ramos, a senior, worked magic with the ball, calling on a lifetime of experience in the sport. He not only scored four goals, but also put on a ball-control clinic and had ‘Zep defenders baffled.

His first goal came on a penalty kick as he got the call to score the first goal when Ethan Arman was fouled in the box. Ramos drilled the PK in the back of the net before the keeper could blink an eye for a 1-0 lead in the first half.

His second goal came to the right side of the net on a brilliant break-away pass from Jason Long. Ramos did the rest and scored quickly. His third and fourth goals came in the second half from Long and Chase Cain passes. Ramos parents Giovanni and Martha Rivera Ramos and his seven-year-old sister Marcela should be proud of the accomplishments Juan has made since coming to a small town like New Martinsville, unlike the four million people in Cali.Long drilled his first goal of the season outside the 18 yard line that caught the ‘Zep goal keeper off guard. Junior three-year letterman Isaac “The Terminator” Howell got into the scoring column after drilling the ball in the back of the net on a rebound shot by Cain.

Cain scored the final Blue Eagle tally with a rebound put-back on a fantastic shot that had the opposing team scratching their heads.

“It was nice to get a win to start the season after not winning a game last season,” said Quinet. “Juan is a fantastic player that has a lot of skill. He played defense in Columbia, but here at Magnolia, we will bring him off the bench to jump-start the team.”

The Magnolia goal keeper and defense did an admirable job. Sophomore Mike Jones, after playing wing last season, volunteered to be the keeper and swatted away 15 shots. The defense, led by sophomore sweeper Daniel “John Paul” Mateer, played an almost flawless game, along with Andrew Stackpole and Mitchell Godwin.

“Ramos, Howell, Cain, Mateer, Heslop and the two Long boys played an outstanding game,” said Quinet. “Although he wasn’t challenged that much, Mike Jones was very good in his first soccer match in between the nets for us.”

*****

Two goals by Ramos wasn’t quite enough to get the win against a nice Tyler Consolidated team as the Knights added a late goal to get the win, 3-2.

Jones was outstanding between the nets for Magnolia, while Ramos’s two goals were a thing of beauty. The first goal bounced off a Knight defender. The second goal will go down as one of the best individual goals ever in a high school contest – and maybe even a college game – witnessed by the Wetzel Chronicle Sports Writer Bruce Crawford.

Ramos hijacked the soccer ball off a Tyler Knight and played with several knights stopping and starting several times. Meanwhile, he made his way to the end-line and finished off with his goal bouncing off a defender on the other side of the goal.

The Silver Knights’ Spencer Kinnard tallied two goals and Justin Cooper one goal o lead the Knight offense. Jones saved 10 shots for the Eagles.

*****

Magnolia was forced to play without Ramos Oct. 27 because of a possible infraction and lost 3-0 to John Marshall in Moundsville. The Eagles should learn more about when Rama might be able to play in the future.

The Eagles will host Edison tonight at 5:30 at the new Hydro Field in New Martinsville.