The Kosciusko boys’ soccer team followed up an easy win last week with a tough loss. The Whippets defeated Choctaw Central, 7-0, but lost to West Lauderdale, 2-1.
The victory over Choctaw Central was the second 7-0 win in a row following a victory over Louisville, and the goal scoring was the same in both games – three each by Jon Gant and Will Carter, and one by Robert Pickle. Carter, Pickle and Thomas Sims had assists against Choctaw Central.
The Whippets jumped on Choctaw Central early, with six first half goals.
“We didn't do anything we hadn't been doing, just a little better,” said Coach Greg Cooper.
Kosciusko is using a 3-5-2 alignment, with three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. Gant and Avery Nicholson are the starting forwards.
Cooper rotates five defenders.
“We can only play three (at a time), but there are five guys I'm comfortable with back there,” said Cooper, who singled out Karson Rutherford for praise.
Kosciusko took a 1-0 lead against West Lauderdale a minute into the game.
“We wanted to press them hard. We always like to do that in the first minute of a game to see if we can get something,” said the coach. “Jon (Gant) was pressing their back line. He was able to steal the ball from one of their center backs. He ended up with a one-on-one with their goalie and stuck it in.”
But that was the Whippets' only goal. West Lauderdale tied the game before halftime and scored the winning goal in the second half.
“We had some other opportunities but were unable to finish,” Cooper said.
The game was played with two referees, one short of the usual number, with the third official out sick.
“That's always difficult. They're going to miss offsides or some ticky-tack stuff,” Cooper said. “The game got a little chippy in the second half, a lot of pushing and shoving. I think the boys handled it well, not retaliating. Overall, the boys played really well, and I look forward to the rematch in January,”
The loss left Kosciusko at 2-1 in Region 4-4A, one game behind West Lauderdale and Newton County. The Whippets play at West Lauderdale in January.
GIRLS
The Lady Whippets were defeated by Choctaw Central 5-1 and West Lauderdale 6-0 to fall to 1-2 in region play. The team's one goal was scored when a shot by Mary Patton Henderson deflected off a Choctaw Central defender into the goal.
Cooper switched from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 in the second half of the Choctaw Central game, with a fourth defender, and said that worked better.
“They are two strong teams,” Cooper said of the opponents. “You have to give Choctaw Central credit. They're a team that doesn't give up. They come after the ball and put pressure on you.”
The Whippets and Lady Whippets played Newton County Tuesday and have games at Northeast Lauderdale Thursday. The boys’ and girls’ junior varsity teams will compete in a tournament at Northeast Lauderdale Saturday.
