Behind Loucks goal, Scio overcomes slow first half start to shutout Belfast; Scio, Friendship girls tie in Friday contest

Written By Chris Brooks

SCIO — In years past, Cam Loucks has emerged as one of Scio’s leaders across all sports, whether it was basketball, or baseball, or even soccer. Now, with many of his fellow, longtime leaders departing the school due to graduation, he has become the leader.

Through three games, he has accounted for three goals. With the spotlight on Scio’s field on a gorgeous and breezy Saturday night, Loucks stepped up to the plate and delivered in a big way.

The Tigers senior delivered his fourth goal of the season under immense pressure from the Belfast defense, shaking it off to make a move to the inside where he let the shot find the back of the netting to put his team on top, and for good, as they were able to hold down the fort on their 1-0 shutout of the Bulldogs.

“It’s one of those things where he’s so important for us in the middle of the field that he has to stay where he is,” said Tigers coach Dillon McFall. “That goal alone, that’s him reading the play and winning the ball, taking the touch and moving forward with it. He’s got a nice shot, and he hits it pretty hard. I’ve watched him do that for the last five years, and he’s a beast for us. He has four goals through four, and that’s coming from a defenseman.”

Coming after Belfast provided the first big chance of the game, and later past the first water break, Loucks found the back of the net behind Stephen Struckmann in goal for Belfast at the 25 minute mark, picking up the loose ball near the outskirts of the Bulldogs box. A trio of Belfast defenders picked up coverage on the Scio (2-1-1) senior, but he was able to wedge his way in to let his shot go far post and in for the lead.

Despite the goal, the first half of play was mainly controlled by the possession of Belfast (2-2), as they were able to do a bit of bending of Scio throughout the 40 minute frame with plenty of chances. Their best chances have come from Matt Weaver, with one coming from a deep ball off the leg of Jason Drozdowski on a near-breakaway, and the other on a dribble down the sidelines toward the corner.

Both shots were connected, but they were not able to be cashed in.

“A lot of these guys up front didn't get enough time last year,” said McFall. “They're all new, this is a completely different team, and we're all learning together. Eight sophomores played minutes tonight. We're just getting better every day, and hopefully we're lucky enough to keep going with it, and I hope we're lucky enough to play as many games as we can. Maybe even a playoff game or two.”

Scio was able to put down the gas pedal to start the second half however, shaking off what pressure was already built by Belfast to build some of their own with Cam Loucks provided with a gorgeously positioned ball from about 20 yards out. But the ball would find the mitts of second half goalkeeper Steven Buchholz, and deflect out to set up a corner kick which Belfast was able to clear out.

Later on near the last break of the game, perhaps the best chance for the Tigers to branch their lead came from Ashton Jennings, who made a full-field sprint down the sideline, turning the corner on his way in to provide a shot on goal. Buchholz was able to get a hand on the ball, but a rebound was created for Nate Ford on the opposite side. With an open side of the net now visible, Ford got a leg on it but the shot went wide.

After the final break, Belfast turned up the heat with a bountiful of chances in the last 10 minutes of play. Struckmann in his first offensive series after being pulled from the goal, nearly tied the game for the Bulldogs after blocking two shots on the fringe, and inside the Scio box. Before getting a foot on the follow-up attempt, Cory Bolzan was able to make the save for the Tigers.

“Mark (Sullivan) made some adjustments, bringing a couple kids up from defense,” McFall said. “We had a goal taken away with around five minutes left if we stay onsides. It would have made it a much more comfortable lead at 2-0 rather than just a one-goal lead. They made some great adjustments. Mark knows what he's doing, he's been around for a while.”

But in the end, Belfast was unable to break Scio.

“First off, coming in, they're always going to play tough,” said McFall of Belfast. “They did, and they put good pressure on us at the end. We may have bent, but we didn't break. We gave up some chances, but we didn't give up anything point blank. Tonight was nice too, we are actually at full strength for the first time this week. We took a beating at Bolivar-Richburg, and I think that was a little bit of a wake-up call for this group. We just physically got manhandled against them, and we've played a lot tougher since then.”

McFall added, “We have just three seniors. A lot of sophomores, a lot of juniors. It's a little bit of a wake-up for these kids as far as playing on the varsity level is concerned. We're taking it day-by-day, and practice by practice, especially this week. We've gotten a lot better each day, and it helps when we get back to full strength.”

The shot department was dead even across the board, with both Belfast and Scio having eight shots on each side. Cory Bolzan stopped all eight he saw in goal for the hosts, while Struckmann and Buchholz combined to make seven stops for the Bulldogs.

Both teams will take the Columbus Day weekend to regroup before returning to action on Wednesday and Friday respectively, as Scio plays host to perhaps their toughest of the season to date, the Fillmore Eagles in a rematch of last year’s State Qualifier at 7 p.m, while Belfast heads to Houghton Academy at the end of next week for a 5 p.m. first kick.

GIRLS SOCCER

Scio 1, Friendship 1 (from 10.9)

FRIENDSHIP — The Lady Tigers of Scio and the Lady Golden Eagles of Friendship fought their way to a 1-1 tie. But with darkness settling in toward the game, no extra time was allotted between the two squads, as they officially settled on the deadlock after regulation, Friday night.

At the midway mark of the first half, it was the Lady Golden Eagles (0-2-1) that managed to get on the board first and foremost, as Aaliyah Harmon picked up the team’s first goal of the season.

The hosts in purple would continue to hold the lead right up until the very end of the game, when Scio (0-1-1) found an opening when Cheyenne Layman dished along a pass to Alexis Crossley, burying it in the Friendship goal in the process with three minutes left remaining to tie the game, ultimately for good.

No further statistics were provided at this time.

After the deadlock, Scio and Friendship will both return to the field after the Columbus Day weekend, as the Lady Golden Eagles head to Scio to finish the home-at-home at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Before their Senior Night game, the Lady Tigers will pay a visit to Andover/Whitesville at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Chris Brooks
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