MIDDLETOWN — It was Mustang against Mustang Tuesday and the better horse won as the St. Vincent Mustangs of Petaluma stampeded past Middletown 8-1 in a non-league boy”s soccer match played in Middletown .
Despite an early glimmer by Middletown (2-3) who scored in the opening minutes, it was all St. Vincent who clearly dominated the pitch for the balance of the 80 minute match with a well executed offense that forced Middletown to circle their wagons.
“We”ve been preaching at every practice, no boot ball, but that”s just what they did,” Middletown coach Chuck Rannells said of his team. “We made mistakes and they ( St. Vincent ) clearly took advantage of them.”
St. Vincent pounded Middletown keeper Dustin Rudiger with shot after shot that kept Middletown off balance and spending most of the match on their side of the pitch as they struggled to keep their Petaluma opponents from scoring to no avail.
“We were in their position last year,” St. Vincent coach Dan Cunningham said, referring to his once senior dominated team and the rebuilding pains of last season. “A bunch of young kids and now we have the experience. It takes time.”
Leading 7-1 at the half, St. Vincent played the field most of the period but were unable to score until the final moments of the match when Maxwell Cline took advantage of a high bounce misplayed by Rudiger to head in the final ball ending play with a final score of 8-1 St. Vincent.
Connor Egide led St. Vincent with three first half goals to earn a hat trick for his efforts followed by Marty Siragusa with a pair earned in the first half goals.
Middletown ”s lone goal of the match came in the opening minutes of play when the Mustangs took advantage of a through ball that was passed up front by Jesus Garcia to Raphael Roy-Labelle who fired a line drive past St Vincent keeper Jackson Walker into the net.
Middletown will face Upper Lake Tuesday at home.
