Titans Blowout Boyle in Opener
Jared Holt
Herald Staff
sports@harrodsburgherald.com
Western Hills
Mercer’s boys soccer came out strong to start the first half of their home opener against Western Hills Saturday night.
The Titans hit the post followed by a header that narrowly missed the frame in the first 15 minutes of play. Western Hills made Mercer pay for their aggressive play later in the half. Wolverine Elma Nfor put Western Hills up 1-0 scoring off a counter attack in the 33rd minute.
The second half was a back and forth battle between the teams with Western Hills holding on to their one goal lead. That all changed with just eight minutes left to play when Mercer was awarded a penalty kick in the 71st minute. Titan Landon Souder took the kick, which was blocked by Western Hills goalie Will Davis. Davis was unable to control the shot, however, blocking it back into play where Souder collected and scored, tying the game, 1-1.
With only minutes remaining neither team was able to get the difference maker with the game ending in a tie.
Boyle County
The Titans soccer team wasted no time dismantling former district rival Boyle County in their season opener Thursday night.
Daniel Steele opened the scoring for Mercer in the sixth minute of play on a through ball from mid-fielder Landon Souder. Less than 10 minutes later, Matthew Gammon increased Mercer’s lead to 2-0. Steele picked up his second goal of the match in the 28th minute beating a Boyle defender to a 50/50 ball in the Rebel’s penalty box and beat the keeper giving Mercer a 3-0 lead going into the half.
Souder and Mason Angel picked up their first goals of the season early in the second half. Gammon picked up his second score on the game’s final goal in the 61st minute on a side volley inside the Rebel’s penalty box as Mercer held Boyle County scoreless in their 6-0 win.
“It was a good game,” said Mercer Head Coach Matt Vogel “We still haven’t played a complete game, but this was much closer to it and a nice way for us to open the season.”
