Northern Tier Sports ReportROME — NEB ended the regular season with a 4-1 win over Troy during NTL boys’ soccer action Wednesday.
Eli Stanton had two goals for the Panthers while Dayton Russell and Tyler Kuhn each scored one. Kuhn also had an assist as Anthony Pousen and Carsen Perkins also had helpers.
Landon Jenkins scored the Troy goal off a Patrick Fitzsimmons assist.
“It was a game in which we had fantastic touch and ball control, the transition by players and movement of the offense was spectacular,” said NEB coach Scott Merritt. “Our touches, passes, and positioning were absolutely great. They did try to make us do unconventional things with their defensive movement but we stayed fluid and creative, and didn’t try to force a bad shot.”
Troy keeper Timothy Hornung made 17 saves in net as Gavin Puza made five stops for the Panthers.
“Tim Hornung had a big day with some outright great saves keeping the score down,” Merritt remarked.
NEB had a 25-5 edge in shots and 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Russell opened the scoring just over two minutes in on a header off a Pousen pass, then Stanton scored off a Kuhn assist with 2:08 left in the half for the 2-0 lead.
Kuhn scored on a Perkins helper at the 29:39 mark, but 30 seconds later Troy answered with Jenkins’ goal off a Fitzsimmons assist.
With 26:20 on the clock Stanton got the final goal of the game off a Kuhn assist.
Troy finishes off the year 0-18, and, even though they didn’t get a win, they had plenty of competitive games during the season.
NEB ends their regular season on a 3-match winning streak as they get ready to see who they face in districts.
“We end our regular season leading the league in goals scored by a good amount, somewhere between 57 and 59 goals,” said Merritt. “And play some very good defense, giving up a very low amount of shots on goal per game, even in our losses.”
— —
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
— —
SHOWCASE:
Your athlete works hard, and their dedication deserves to be seen. With Showcase by Circle W Sports, you can give your child a professional, online presence that stands out to college coaches and recruiters. Whether your child is aiming for a college roster or just wants to proudly showcase their journey, Showcase helps tell their story the right way. Use code "VSR" to receive a two-week free trial when you sign up for Showcase before September 8th."
