Hornets Snap Skid by Sinking Vikings
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The McCann Tech boys' soccer team was due for a day like Friday.The Hornets, who were stuck in a tough five-game losing streak, scored two goals in each half to earn a 4-0 win over a winless Smith Vocational team on the road. Adam Kozik's team outshot the Vikings 40-8 in the contest and got goals from four different players to improve their overall record to 3-7-1 this year.
"This had nothing to do with any one player and everything to do with team play," Kozik said. "For the first time in a great while, we had less pressure and more time to think and pass. A few minutes after the game started, the passing became very fluid and the team showed that they had learned something from the many passing drills and activities they'd done over the weeks. By passing and maintaining possession, we didn't give Smith Voc. a chance to take shots and held onto the ball in Smith's half for much of the game."
McCann took a 1-0 lead when freshman Shane Fuller blasted a high shot past Vikings keeper Josh Harriman eight minutes into the game. Senior captain Nate Gutmann increased the lead in the 29th minute, scoring on a low shot from the 18 to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead at the break. Sophomore Josh Budaj and freshman John Leal stepped up to lead a McCann defense that was missing three starters off of the backline. Senior Dylan Walker, who usually starts at centerback, came up to the midfield late in the second half and got off three solid shots, scoring into the left corner to close out the scoring with 20 minutes left to play. Junior Chad Raimer scored seven minutes earlier for his team-leading sixth goal of the year.
"This was a game of taking chances and playing as a team," Kozik said. "Players who seldom step up and take shots took shots. The team passed and possessed well under little pressure and really began to think and play as a team. They already know their next challenge, which is to do the same under extreme pressure."
Harriman ended up making 22 saves for Smith, while Hornets' goalie Connor Vazquez made seven saves to earn his second shutout of the season.
McCann next plays at Sci-Tech at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.