From press and staff reports
With the addition of goalie Braden Ray and defenseman Nick Sudduth following conclusion of the football season, Kosciusko boys soccer posted two shutouts, a 5-0 win over Choctaw Central and a scoreless tie with Lafayette.
One hundred sixty minutes of game time without a ball entering the Kosciusko goal!
Kosciusko scored twice in the first half against Choctaw Central in the Whippets’ first Region 4-4 game on a goal by Colton Thorpe with an assist from Grayson Hughes and a score by Gio Sabino. The Whippets added three second half goals despite playing most of the half a man down because of a red card.
“I’m proud of how they handled that,” said coach Greg Cooper.
Sabino scored twice in the second half including a penalty kick, Ezra Keeton and Hughes once each. Hughes, Eli Cooper and Avery Nicholsn had assists. Nicholson was Player of the Game.
Lafayette is a 5A team with a strong soccer tradition that defeated Kosciusko 3-1 a year ago. “We knew going in it would be a competitive game. We knew we would have to play a heck of a defensive game,” Cooper said.
Fresh off his punting and placekicking duties on the gridiron, Ray kept the game scoreless with his play in goal. “It was great having Braden back. He made some great saves and ended up being Player of the Game.”
Girls
The Lady Whippets are also 1-0 in region play with a 1-0 victory over Choctaw Central. Leeanna Biggart scored with an assist from Klara Tran.
“It was a back and forth game,” said coach Mitchell Myer “Klara played an excellent through ball off the right side to Lee who put it in the goal.”
Mia Manjarrez recorded the shutout in goal.
Lafayette scored both goals in the first half. The Commodores, who defeated Kosciusko 5-0 a year ago, allowed only one goal in winning five straight.
The Whippets and Lady Whippets played Leake Central in a 4-4A game Tuesday and will be at Newton County Thursday.
