Daviess County was efficient with their possessions Thursday, and it made all the difference in their 3-0 win over Owensboro in a 9th District boys’ soccer game at Deer Park Field.
The Panthers (3-0, 2-0 9th District) wasted no time in taking a lead, as Hunter Clark took a pass from Neh Reh and found the net only a couple minutes into the match.
Clark then set up two more first-half goals for DC. With about 10 minutes to go, he sent a cross to Jacob Boling, whose deflected shot still went in for a 2-0 lead.
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For a full photo gallery from the game, click here.
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In the final minute, Clark sent a free kick from the left corner to the opposite side of the box. Boling headed the cross back in front of the goal, where Declan Armistead sent a header in for the final score of the night.
“We certainly took advantage of the chances we got,” said Panthers’ head coach David Sandifer. “We probably had five or six chances and we scored on three of them. That’s the efficiency you’re always hoping for.”
Sandifer was also pleased with another strong defensive showing. Daviess County has yet to allow a goal this season.
“I was very happy with the way we played,” Sandifer said. “I thought we were disciplined defensively after we kind of settled in. I thought the boys did well not diving as much in our defensive third and trying to push them out of dangerous spots.”
Owensboro (2-2, 1-1) didn’t let up, though, and played aggressive throughout the night. Red Devils’ head coach Ryan Haley said they just weren’t able to connect despite maintaining possession often.
“I thought we were in more threatening positions throughout the game,” he said. “Daviess County did a good job finishing. That’s the bottom line.”
Sandifer was happy with the response from his young team after Owensboro came back out with heavy pressure.
“With the youth we have out there, I’m very pleased overall with how they performed,” he said. “Several guys just played their first varsity game against Owensboro and I thought they handled the pressure well. Owensboro is a very dangerous attacking team. They’ve got several threats.”
Haley and his guys are already eager for the rematch in three weeks.
“The boys truly believe they should have had the game,” he said. “They feel like it was one we should have won. I feel the same. It will be interesting to see us play again.”
Both teams will be back in action Saturday. The Panthers host Greenwood at noon. The Red Devils play a pair of road games, facing Model at 11:30 a.m. and Madison Central at 6:30 p.m.
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2019 soccer coverage is presented by Worth Insurance Group.
