When Justin Roush’s Alexander Spartans took the pitch on Monday evening to face the Morgan Raiders, the 96 degree temperature had dropped to a balmy 92. The 2-1 Raiders were interested in keeping the heat on, though, to hold the Spartans winless.
The gritty Spartans had other thoughts and, as they have done in every match this season, controlled the action from the first whistle. Shawn Bell’s Raiders were to a man older, taller, and thicker than Alexander with several players who are on the gridiron team. But the Spartans negated that advantage with good passing, pestering one-on-one defense, speed, and general hustle.
Early on the midfield belong to Alexander with strong play by junior Jake Roush, and sophomores Gabe Felts, Carter Wandling, and Jasper Roush. They moved the ball well enough to set up a nice scoring chance for Jake Roush from freshman Jace Cooper that Raider goalie Julius Strelec worked to cover.
Midway through the half, the elder Roush worked a pretty combo to Mason Morris who was streaking down the left flank. The pass hit him in stride and he sped himself past the defender to paste the ball into the strings to stake Alexander to a 1-0 lead. Morris had several other strong runs down the sideline that Strelic would gather to keep the difference to one goal.
The Raiders were able to get some momentum and test the Spartan defense. Wandling turned away several threats with timely clearances when the visitor’s strategy became clearer. For literally every throw-in the Spartan third, Bradley Spenser was brought up from his deep central defender spot. He could get good distance and loft, trying to target one of his tall teammates. However, in his second varsity start, sophomore netminder Riley Abfall turned in a great performance coming off his line when needed and safely corralling every ball that came his way. He also smoothly collected the three corner kicks that Morgan weapons Braylon Miller and Jude Garber sent in.
Though the two sides exchanged runs and threats, the Spartans held the middle and the lead as the first half ended.
Bell changed tactics for his team and, for the next forty minutes, he had his charges send passes over the midfield to eliminate Alexander’s control of that area. Spencer became the pivot man in that approach with long leads from the back. In doing so, he flooded the defense with numbers of tall runners. That pressure forced Abfall into a string of saves and collections, including two serious corner kicks. His defensive crew of Sammy Betuna, A J Turner, Isiah Fisher, Cade Esselburn, and Landry McKibben turned in yoeman’s work during the flurry.
With all the activity on the defense, the Spartans managed one good charge at the webbing but Strelic knocked down Jake Roush’s attempt at him.
Clinging to the one goal lead with under ten minutes to go, Abfall tapped away Miller’s nasty try at him, and it was another corner kick the Spartans had to withstand. Garber sent the ball to the left center of the box where practically every player had a go at it in the space of about three yards. Miller was the last to touch it and it bounced into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Miller nearly got the go ahead counter three minutes later but his solid shot clanged off the crossbar and the game ended as a 1-1 draw.
Things don’t get easier for the Spartans as they look for their first “W” of the year. They entertain the Marietta Tigers on Tuesday and then face their cross-county rival the Athens Bulldogs two days later.
SCORING:
Alex: 1 0 1
Morgan: 0 1 1
Alex: Morris (Jake Roush) 1st 26:46 1-0
Morgan: Miller 2nd 07:07 1-1
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