Tuscola soccer defeats Erwin for first win
Sep. 3—Behind a goal apiece from Tuscola sophomore midfielder Sean Fitzgerald and senior left winger and captain Martin Tox, the Mountaineers knocked off Erwin 2-1 Wednesday night in Waynesville.
After a first half defensive mistake by Tuscola (1-2) allowed Erwin (0-5) to get on the board first, Mountaineer head coach Ray Sugg thought his team played much better defensively.
Sugg said the Mounties controlled possession of the ball for most of the game and earned several goal chances. He credited the Warrior backline for adjusting and holding them to just two goals. He said the Erwin defenders were good at forcing his offense into offsides calls.
Tox knocked in the equalizer late in the first half on a perfectly-placed assist from Fitzgerald across the field. Fitzgerald kicked a diagonal pass in the air from the right side of the field to Tox making a run on the left side. The pass bounced once, luring the goalkeeper towards the ball, but Tox won the race. He headed the ball over the keeper and into the net.
"It was a nice finish, but what made it was Sean's vision," Sugg said. "He looked up and saw it and put the ball where it needed to be."
Fitzgerald put Tuscola ahead early in the second half with a goal of his own. Junior Nolan Martin, who also kicks for the football team, won a defensive challenge for the ball and quickly passed upfield to senior striker Felippe Portale. Portale was running from the middle of the field to the right side, bringing Erwin's defenders with him, creating an opening on the left side that Fitzgerald saw and filled. With the pass from Portale coming in the air, Fitzgerald volleyed the ball into the net without letting it touch the ground.
"It was a pretty combination," Sugg said. "It ended up being the game winner. I really thought we'd score a couple more because we did keep it in their half most of the second half."
Sugg named freshman defender Chris Wells player of the match for his strong effort, hustling for all 80 minutes without subbing out.
"He literally played goal line to goal line, covered the whole field," Sugg said.
Sugg said he's pleased with how the team is coming along, playing more cohesively as a unit and strengthening connections since earlier in the young season.
With their first win of the season now out of the way, the Mountaineers shift their focus to an away match against Brevard (1-3-2) on Tuesday.
