The Swain High Men’s Soccer team hosted the Tri County Jaguars on Monday in a Smoky Mountain Conference matchup. A minute into the game Sophomore Clayton Shuler would find Senior Landon Matz for a goal. Four minutes later Sophomore Oliver Reyes would find Matz for his second goal of the game. Five minutes later Shuler would send the ball through to Sophomore Brendan Lanning making an outside run. Lanning would convert it into a goal. One minute later Shuler would add his 3rd assist finding Matz for his 3rd goal of the game. A minute later Shuler would add a goal himself off a pass from Matz putting the Devils up 5-0. Two minutes later Matz would find Freshman Evan Hall with a pass that Hall would convert into a goal. With just 5 minutes left in the half, Junior Kyle Nguyen would score his first goal of the season off a pass from Freshman Jason Maffett. The half would end with the Devils up 7-0.
Two minutes into the second half the Jaguars would get a free kick right outside the box and convert it into their first goal of the game. Eleven minutes into the second half Matz would steal the ball from a Jaguar defender and convert it into a goal. Seven minutes later Hall would find Matz for his fifth and final goal of the game. With 18 minutes left in the game Sophomore Mason Divine would head the ball into the goal securing the 10-1 mercy rule win for the Devils. “Our team continues to buy into the team philosophy and had some really good ball movement and a strong defense.” said Head Coach Scott Cline.
On the Defensive side Sophomore Brendan Lanning led the way with 10 clears/steals. He was followed by Senior Canon Helpman with 8, Sophomore Max Wilmot with 6, and Senior Spencer Rowland with 5. In goal Senior Cameron Phillips recorded 8 goalkeeper saves. The Player of the Game for the Devils was Senior Landon Matz. “Landon had a big game with it being his first game back in many weeks. He did a great job scoring and working the ball around to his teammates.” said Cline. The Maroon Devils move to 7-1 in conference play. They are currently in 1st place in the Smoky Mountain Conference after Blue Ridge lost to Highlands on Monday night. The Devils host Murphy at 5:30 on Wednesday at the Swain County Rec Park.