Dils' Header Pushes Mounties Past Spartans
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Monument Mountain boys' soccer team played a very solid game defensively, but a header by senior captain Tom Dils in the 74th minute made all the difference in Mount Greylock's 1-0 win at home on Tuesday.Dils took advantage of one of the Mounties' nine corner kicks in the match, skying high for a cross from junior Nathan Majumder and heading it back across the goal mouth into the side netting from about eight yards out. Dils' game-winning tally ruined a great effort by the Spartans' defense, which kept their team in the game despite being outshot 8-4 in the contest.
"Monument was extremely well organized on defense and frustrated our forwards all night," Greylock head coach Blair Dils said. "We had a lot of possession in their half, but they did a very good job of limiting our scoring chances. Monument's a young team, but they are going to give many teams fits all season long."
Despite winning the battle for possession for most of the game, the Mounties (2-0) were unable to break through the scoring column until late in the second half. Greylock freshman Eric Hirsch was taken down inside the goal box midway through the first half, but Majumder missed the penalty kick off of the left post.
"We raised our energy level in the second half and made more dynamic runs to goal," Dils said. "The goal we scored came from sheer determination in the box. Defensively, we were sharp tonight. [Goalkeeper] Sean [Houston] had a relatively easy night because of the great work that the back four did in front of him."
The Mounties' defense, led by senior captain Ryan Mahar, made it so Houston needed to make only one save to earn his first shutout of the season. Greylock resumes play on Friday, when it hosts Hoosac Valley at 4 p.m.