TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur soccer Bucs ended a two-game slide with perhaps their best outing of the year in a 3-0 shutout win over the visiting Princeton Tigers Saturday afternoon at the high school.
“This was some of the best team soccer we’ve played this year,” stated Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Mike Donato. “We stepped hard on every ball, played great defense, and made some great passes all over the field. Princeton is a very physical team and our team was up for the challenge and we didn’t back down. I was especially happy with the pace we played with today. Quick passes with purpose and great communication. In the second half we had to make adjustments due to some injuries but we played great and managed to limit their chances and keep the shutout on the scoreboard.”
The Bucs scored all three of their goals in the first half.
The game was scoreless until the 24th minute when Josh Gregory cleaned up a loose ball in front of the Princeton net and finished with a goal to the near post.
Just three minutes later, Noah Radabaugh played a pass in front of the goal to Zach Calef-Boring who finished with a left footer to the near post.
The Bucs wrapped up the scoring in the 38th minute when Caleb Haney scored on a penalty kick after a Princeton foul.
The Bucs outshot Princeton by a 6-4 margin but trailed in corner kicks by a 4-2 count.
The Bucs were guilty of nine fouls while the Tigers were called for 10.
Dalton Auvil made four saves in net for the Bucs while Lucas Monaghar stopped three shots for Princeton.
The win improved the Bucs to 3-5-1 on the season.
They will be back in action Tuesday visiting Woodrow Wilson.
Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
The boxscore:
Princeton 0 0 – 0
Buckhannon-Upshur 3 0 – 3
(Scoring)
Buckhannon-Upshur – Josh Gregory (unassisted), 24th minute.
Buckhannon-Upshur – Zach Calef-Boring (Noah Radabaugh), 27th minute.
Buckhannon-Upshur – Caleb Haney (penalty kick), 38th minute.
Shots-on-goal – Princeton: 4; Buckhannon-Upshur: 6.
Corner kicks – Princeton: 4; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2.
Fouls – Princeton: 10; Buckhannon-Upshur: 9.
Saves – Princeton: Lucas Monaghar 3; Buckhannon-Upshur: Dalton Auvil 4.
