Special to the MDN – The Swain High Men’s Soccer team hosted 2A Brevard Blue Devils on Monday in a non-conference season opener. Brevard plays in the Mountain Foothills Seven 2A conference. It would not take long for Brevard to get on the scoreboard. Just four minutes into the game Brevard would take a shot that would be blocked by Swain Senior goalkeeper Cameron Phillips. Brevard would have an unmarked player that would score off the rebound. Three minutes later Brevard would add another goal off a cross to the middle. Three minutes later Brevard would add a third goal off a corner kick. take 35 minutes for either team to get on the scoreboard. Brevard would score first off a free kick. Brevard would add their fourth goal with 8 minutes left in the half. With 6 minutes left in the half Senior Matthew Gray would take a long throw finding Senior Landon Matz for a one touch goal. The half would end with the Blue Devils up 4-1.
The first 25 minutes of the second half would be a defensive standoff. Brevard would add another goal 15 minutes left in the half. One minute later Brevard would commit a foul 38 yards out from the goal. Gray would take the Direct Free Kick and score the goal through the Blue Devil defenders. Brevard would score three more unanswered goals taking the 8-2 win. “It was definitely a tough night for the team. After losing some key Seniors from last season, we are having to try out different players in different positions. With scrimmages being canceled our only true opportunity is to figure it out in the games.” said Head Coach Scott Cline. “This is also why we play the big schools in the beginning to get some things worked out and ready for when conference play starts.”
Defensively Senior Canon Helpman led the way with 17 Steals/Clears, followed by Sophomores Max Wilmot and Brendan Lanning each with 13. In goal Senior Cameron Phillips recorded 21 goalkeeper saves.
The Player of the Game for the Maroon Devils was Senior Cameron Phillips. “Cameron had some amazing saves against a very good team. He has developed into a very good goalkeeper.” said Cline. On Wednesday the Devils will host 3A Smoky Mountain High School at 6 PM and on Thursday they will travel to West Henderson to take on the 3A Falcons.