MOUNDSVILLE – Brennan Rice may not be the biggest player on the St. Clairsville boys soccer team, but he put on a really great performance Monday.
The 1.65 m tall and 56 kg junior assisted on the Red Devils’ first three goals (2-1) and scored the last goal – a penalty – in the 5-1 victory over John Marshall on the artificial turf at Monarch Stadium.
“I think he has probably played the game of his life so far,” St. Clairsville head coach Jeff Roberts said of Rice. “He definitely had a great performance tonight. He played the ball to the right places.”
Camden Judge gave the visitors the lead in the third minute – a lead they would never relinquish – when he slotted the ball past Monarchs goalkeeper Tripp Bonds with his right foot after a perfect pass from Rice. The shot – the Red Devils’ second of the game – beat Bonds with his left.
“It was nice to come out and score a goal so early. It takes some of the pressure off,” Roberts said about the early goal. “After the first goal, it comes slowly. I always tell them that if they are patient, the scoring opportunities will come.”
Early in the 14th minute, St. Clairsville’s shot hit the crossbar and then deflected off the post, leading to a corner kick.
Rice sent the ball deep into the box, where Jani Viczian put it into the goal with a one-timer with his right foot, increasing the lead to 2-0.
Seven minutes later, Rice sent another corner kick into the box, where Carson Hendershot headed the ball past Bonds and into the goal, making it 3-0 at half-time.
“We decided to stack the box because they really weren’t,” Rice explained the corner kick strategy.
“We spent some time in training last week on finishing and corner kicks,” noted Roberts. “I thought that was one of our weaknesses so far, but today we did great.”
With the sun beating down on the pitch, Roberts decided to change his strategy in the second half.
“It was hot… really, really hot, so some of the guys were able to get some much-needed running exercise in,” added Roberts. “I think we played a complete game, although we had to change our tactics a little bit in the second half. I was worried about the heat, so we had to change our tactics in the second half. We had more possession of the ball and were able to bring Talan into play to move the ball from one side to the other. I told the team at halftime that the ball rolls faster than running.”
John Marshall (0-2) had several scoring opportunities at the beginning of the second half, but was unable to capitalize.
The series ended in the 70th minute when Quinton West hammered home a rebound after St. Clairsville goalkeeper Talan Rice saved Bradyn Ruckman’s initial shot.
“We were a team that started slowly. That was a problem for us last year and hurt us at the season opener in Brooke,” Said Strope. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s something we need to figure out very quickly because our schedule is not getting any easier.”
St. Clairsville came back six minutes later when Jonathan Verardi’s shot from just outside the box sailed to the right side of the net for a 4-1 lead.
John Marshall was booked for a handball in the penalty area, which resulted in the Red Devils being awarded a penalty from 12 metres. Brennan Rice rounded off his outstanding game in the 79th minute with a smash into the left side of the goal.
“After losing Parker Galloway in the season opener, our boys need to improve their game,” Said Brennan Rice. “That’s what we did tonight.”
Although the Monarchs fell just short, they held on in the second half, giving head coach Josh Strope an opportunity to build on.
“The boys fought and I can’t praise them enough for that. Our effort was great tonight,” Said Strope. “We just have to start better.”
St. Clairsville was able to fire nine shots, JM only eight. Bonds saved five shots, Talan Rice six.
The Red Devils travel to East Liverpool today. John Marshall plays at home against Morgantown on Wednesday.
