TIFFIN – Coming off its best performance of the season Tuesday, defeating TRAC rival Whitmer, the Fremont Ross boys soccer team hoped to avoid an emotional hangover.
While the final score might indicate the Little Giants succeeded in keeping the momentum going, Ross’ 6-1 victory over Tiffin Columbian wasn’t everything coach Alex Coressel wanted it to be.
“It was very a sloppy, lazy first half,” Coressel said. “I think there was a kind of a hangover from Tuesday, combined with not playing a very strong opponent, so they kind of walked in with a last attitude.”
The Little Giants wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Chris Navarro set up a goal by Ayden Carter less than three minutes into the game. But more than 20 minutes passed before the Little Giants added to their lead. Isaac Minor scored a pair of goals, assited by Navarro and Brady Wolfe, respectively, to take a 3-0 lead at halftime.
“We had possession, we had 23 shots in the first half, just not many on net,” Coressel said of the first half. “It was sloppy, selfish play and it wasn’t very pretty to watch.”
Carter scored his second goal of the game within two minutes of the start of the second half, off an assist from Alec Slemmer. Mason DeWalt scored with an assist from Durbin and then Minor scored his third of the game unassisted to finish the scoring.
In all, Ross fired 43 shots toward the Tornadoes’ goal.
“We had a stern talking-to at half,” Coressel said. “We came out in the second and scored goals 4 and 5 within two minutes. We got it together, quit being selfish and shared the ball really well and banged a couple more home real quick to put it out of reach and we were able to get subs in for the last 20 to 25 minutes or so.”
Logan Baacke played the majority of the game as goalkeeper, though wasn’t required to make any saves, before freshman Cristian Reta came on in relief to play his first experience in goal where he made three saves.
“He is not a goalie but it was his birthday,” Coressel said. “He said he wanted to play in the net, so we put him in.”
The win lifts Ross’ overall record to 7-3 and the Little Giants host Clyde Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the girls team. The boys start the day at 10 a.m. with the girls starting approximately 11:45.