Special to the MDN – The Swain High Men’s Soccer team hosted 3A Smoky Mountain High School Mustangs on Wednesday night. Just seven minutes into the game Senior Landon Matz would have a break away from 60 yards out and score on the Mustang goalkeeper. With 12 minutes left in the first half, the Devils would be called with a high kick giving the Mustangs a free kick from 36 yards out. The Mustangs would convert the free kick into a goal. The half would end with the Devils and Mustangs tied 1-1.
In the second half the Mustangs would add a second goal just 10 minutes in. The rest of the game would remain a defensive standoff between the two teams. “Overall it was a tough game for our team. We were very proud of the amount of improvement they have shown between Monday night and Wednesday night though.” said Head Coach Scott Cline. “We continue to make small tweaks here and there to figure some things out.”
Defensively Senior Canon Helpman led the way with 23 Steals/Clears, followed by Sophomore Brendon Lanning with 10, Sophomore Max Wilmot with 5 and Senior Spencer Rowland and Sophomore Clayton Shuler each with 4. In goal Senior Cameron Phillips recorded 27 goalkeeper saves.
The Player of the Game for the Maroon Devils was Senior Canon Helpman. “Canon did an amazing job on defense and helped us close down a lot of their goal attempts,” said Cline. “This year he has had to play out of his traditional position of Defensive Mid and is doing a great job in the back line.” On Thursday the Devils will travel to West Henderson to take on the 3A West Henderson Falcons and then on Monday they will host the 3A Pisgah Bears.