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STEUBENVILLE – The Big Red boys’ soccer team created plenty of opportunities against Brooke, and the goals eventually came for the Red-and-Black.
Junior standout Landon Bowers delivered four goals and an assist leading Big Red to a 5-1 victory against the Bruins in a game shortened due to multiple bouts of inclement weather.
The start of the game was changed due to the expected inclement weather, and the start was pushed back due to a thunderstorm. The game got underway, and the two teams battled it out for nearly 32 minutes when the game came to a halt thanks to another weather delay – this one lasting nearly 33 minutes. Due to the weather, the game was ultimately called less than 15 minutes into the second half.
“We pressed hard early in the game,” Big Red (2-1) head coach Greg Bowers said. “We were worried about the weather. With the weather, there is no guarantee of how long you are going to be able to play. We were hoping the weather was going to hold up. The game counted at halftime. We wanted to push it early in the game. We were able to score a couple of goals, and we were able to settle in.”
The loss drops the Bruins to 1-4-2.
“They controlled the ball, but so did we,” Brooke head coach Joe Pepe said. “They scored on a penalty kick. They scored their first goal on a penalty kick. It was a handball in the box. That happens. Then, we gave up another goal. They had a couple of shots. That happens.
“Take nothing away from Big Red. Big Red is a good team. It was 3-1 at halftime, and then we fell apart. They scored another goal on another penalty kick, and we just fell apart. We made some mistakes.
“I am proud of our kids. They played really hard. They did not quit.
“The delays hurt us some. We had to keep walking back up. We had to keep getting ready to play. Those things happen.
“I still have a very-young team. I am very proud of my guys. We are starting to come together. Our record may not show it. We’re 1-4-2, but we are starting to come together. We are starting to come together, and we are starting to play as a team. I am very proud of our guys. Our guys did a nice job.”
The boys in red created a scoring opportunity on a long-range shot about seven minutes into the game, however, Brooke goalie Bronson Pack was able to make the save keeping the game scoreless. Pack saved another Big Red shot with 29:50 remaining to be played in the first half.
Brooke created a scoring chance of its own on a long-distance shot, however, JJ Lamantia was able to make the save for Big Red with 26:15 left in the half.
Big Red got on the scoreboard when Landon Bowers scored on a penalty kick with 21:17 remaining in the half to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The home team then created another opportunity, but Pack made the save on the shot from distance with 18:18 showing on the scoreboard clock. The boys from Jefferson County had two chances to score less than three minutes later when Pack made two saves – one on a rebound – keeping the visitors down by just one goal with 15:45 still to play before halftime.
The victors were able to extend their advantage a little more than three minutes later when sophomore Chase Beall flicked a shot into the back of the net giving Big Red a 2-0 lead with 12:40 left in the half.
Bowers had an opportunity for his second goal, however, his shot from long range was saved 70 seconds later.
The Bruins found the back of the net less than two minutes later when senior and co-captain Jacob High scored on a long-range shot to pull the boys in white to within 2-1 with 10:04 remaining to be played in the half.
“It was a nice shot,” Pepe said.
The home team fired another shot from distance, but Pack was once again up to the challenge as he made the save with less than 9:30 on the clock keeping it a one-goal game.
The action continued for more than a minute before Mother Nature made her presence known once again as the game was delayed with 8:08 still showing on the scoreboard clock.
Following the nearly 33-minute delay, Big Red was able to create a golden opportunity on a free kick from 30-yards out, however, the shot hit off the crossbar keeping the score at 2-1.
Big Red continued to attack, and they were awarded another penalty kick when Brooke was called for another foul in the box. Landon Bowers took the kick once again for his team. This time, however, the shot was saved, but Landon Bowers was in position to knock in the rebound with 5:27 left in the half to regain a two-goal advantage for Big Red at 3-1.
“Landon got plenty of opportunities to score, but he was too charged up,” Coach Bowers said. “He got settled in, we were able to close them down and we were able to put the game away.”
Big Red was awarded a couple corner kicks late in the half, however, they were unable to take advantage of them as the home took a two-goal lead into halftime.
Following a brief break, the second half began.
“Coach (Joe) Pepe’s kids always play hard,” Coach Bowers said. “They did a nice job. They were able to put pressure on our defense. They were able to create a couple of mistakes, and they took advantage of one mistake. Then, our defense settled down.”
Bowers completed his hat trick a little more than two minutes into the second half when he scored for the third time with 37:58 remaining to be played.
Landon Bowers had an opportunity for goal No. 4, however, Pack stopped his shot from distance with 36:02 left to play keeping the Green-and-Gold in the game.
Pack saved another shot by Bowers from outside the box with 28:26 left to go, however, the ball ended up going out of bounds resulting in another corner for Big Red. This time, the Red capitalized as Landon Bowers found the back of the net for the fourth time on the night increasing his team’s advantage out to 5-1 with 27:50 still to play.
The game was once again delayed with 25:44 left in the second half. This delayed lasted 27 minutes before the game was finally called off.
“Big Red didn’t do anything different,” Pepe said. “I tried to switch things up on offense, but when I tried to switch things up on offense, that is when we made some little mistakes. That is going to happen.
“Our kids did not quit. They played hard the whole game. They never quit. Take nothing away from Big Red. They are a good team. Greg does a good job with them. Our kids never quit. I am very proud of them.”
Cedrick Peckens and Tommy Lucas each tallied an assist for Big Red.
Lamantia made three saves in the win.
“I was talking to Coach Pepe before the game,” Coach Bowers said. “We had one game canceled because of the weather. We have a gauntlet of games coming up. We really hoped that we would be able to get this whole game in. We wanted to be out on the field.”
Pack made 12 saves for the Bruins.
“He made some big saves,” Pepe said.
Brooke is scheduled to play East Fairmont at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning in the first game of a boys’ and girls’ doubleheader on Paul “Bud” Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium. The Brooke girls are slated to play East Fairmont at 1:30 p.m.
Big Red is set to take on Tri-Valley at 12:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at home in the first game of a doubleheader. The Big Red girls will play University at 2:30 p.m.