Dils' Hat Trick Leads Mount Greylock Boys Past Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- It was not a big surprise to see the Mount Greylock boys soccer team come out on top in Thursday’s battle of perennial Berkshire County powers at Kirvin Park.
But the 5-0 win over Pittsfield is liable to turn some heads.
“I saw them play Westfield on Saturday night, and then I saw them take Wahconah apart -- I’m just really surprised that we were as successful as we were today,” Mounties coach Blair Dils said.
Senior Sam Dils led Mount Greylock’s offense with three goals and an assist as the Mounties improved to 2-0-1 this fall and showed significantly more efficiency on offense than they did in a 1-1 tie against Frontier last weekend.
“We thought we had a pretty good game plan knowing what they were doing with their defensive shape,” Sam Dils said. “I think we just capitalized really well. We had a couple of set piece goals, which was encouraging to see and then just playing through and possessing the ball and creating chances all throughout the game. I thought we did a really good job of that.”
Dils set up Brady Foehl for the game’s first goal on a free kick from the right wing. Dils crossed the ball to the far post, where Foehl was able to knock it home in the 12th minute.
Two minutes later, Quinn Johnstadt set up Dils with a through ball, and he finished to make it 2-0.
It was 3-0 at half-time after Emmanuel Soza-Foias scored an unassisted goal on a play that started with another free kick, this time by Will Reynolds from about 30 yards out.
Sam Dils said the restart goals were a good sign for the Mounties, who also created a number of dangerous chances on corner kicks.
“We really like being able to be dangerous on those [set pieces],” he said. “I know that in previous years, that was an area where we’ve kind of struggled a little bit both offensively and defensively. A couple of years ago, we gave up a lot of set piece goals, especially to Pittsfield, actually. They were really good in the air there.
“But it’s great to see. Guys are getting after it in the box and trying to get a touch on it. They may not be the prettiest goals all the time, but we had a couple of those, too.”
The Mounties would have had a couple of more goals if not for the strong play of PHS keeper Avi Snowise, who stopped eight shots.
In the second half, the Generals (1-2) generated two quick shots on goal against the Mounties Sam Edge (four saves), but he was equal to the challenge en route to his second shutout of the season.
Dils added a couple of insurance goals in the 49th and 55th minutes, on assists from Luke Swann and Quinn Johnstadt.
Pittsfield coach Andrew Antil said Thursday’s game was a learning experience for his club.
“This was a big wake up call for our team,” Antil said. “In our last two games we have gotten away with soft tackles, not going up for head ball, and just not playing to our strengths. Greylock is too good a team to put up anything less than our best and it showed today.
“We have a lot of talent at every position, and I know that we can compete with the top teams. We just have to put in a stronger effort. Our next games are Wachusett on Saturday and Lenox on Tuesday so we will need to dig deep and step up as a team.”
Mount Greylock goes to Amherst-Pelham on Monday.