Titan Soccer Picks Up First Win Of Season
The Harrodsburg Herald/Samuel Warren
Grayson Guerra watched on as junior defender Landon Steele sent the ball up the field during the Titans 2-1 win over Garrard County on Thursday, Aug. 14.
Samuel Warren
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Mercer County Titan soccer (1-1) picked up its first win of the season in thrilling fashion on Thursday, Aug. 14, on the new turf field at Garrard County High School.
The Golden Lions were raring to begin the first game of their season, and they came out on the front foot. The Titans have shown improved defensive shape, with centerbacks Landan Steele and Tucker Jenkins holding a higher line. However, Garrard still managed to slip a few passes through early, testing new goalkeeper Brycen Garcia–who handled the one-on-ones with ease.
As the game progressed, the Titans took advantage of Garrard’s weak pass rush and did a much better job of maintaining possession. Mercer stayed on their front foot, and just over 20 minutes into the game, senior Jack Gammon got a foot on a loose ball near the six-yard box and watched it slowly bounce into the side netting.
The goal proved inspirational, and the Titans kept the ball on the Golden Lions’ half of the field for most of the first half, eventually earning a free kick about eight yards outside of the 18-yard box. Senior Grayson Guerra stepped up to take the kick and lofted a shot high in the air that drifted down, bouncing off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net. The Titans took a two-goal advantage into halftime.
The second half didn’t go as planned for the Titans. Garrard County goalkeeper Mikie Leger was under near-constant pressure, but the Titans couldn’t convert any of their 10 shots during the second 40-minute period, and even bounced three of their shots off the goal posts. Senior goalkeeper Cameron Johnson was forced to leave his area and recover a through ball with about 20 minutes remaining. In the scramble for the ball, he inadvertently knocked the leg of a Golden Lion attacker, resulting in a penalty, which was converted, making the score 2-1. Garrard County picked up the pace after grabbing their opening goal and the final 15 minutes included three corners and two free-kicks for the Golden Lions, several questionable calls, and two minutes of time added back on the clock. In the end, Mercer stayed solid at the back and didn’t allow a goal from open play, more than enough to earn their first win of the season.
Two days later, the Titans (1-2) faced the Pulaski County Maroons in a rematch of a dramatic contest a year ago in which the Maroons pulled out a tight 2-1 victory and two red cards were shown.
The first Saturday game each fall hasn’t been kind to the Titans over the last two seasons, and the struggles continued this year. The Maroons came out at full speed, scored quickly, and didn’t slow down until halftime, when the score was already 4-1. Mijaia Dunn scored the Titans only goal, but the Titans eventually started to feel the heat, which forced the game to end early, 7-1 in Pulaski County’s favor.
The Titans’ next home game is scheduled for today, Thursday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. at Mercer County Intermediate School, where they will face Frankfort Christian. They will be back in action again in Harrodsburg on Saturday, Aug. 23, against Taylor County. Kick-off is scheduled for noon.
