The Swain High Men’s Soccer team hosted the Murphy Bulldogs on Wednesday in a Smoky Mountain Conference matchup. In their previous meeting this season the Devils took the 4-1 win. The Devils would score first when Sophomore Clayton Shuler would head the ball ahead to Senior Landon Matz who would take a few dribbles and score the goal. Just 10 minutes later the Bulldogs would add a goal of their own tying the game up at 1-1. Five minutes later Shuler would get a ball off a rebound from a Devils shot and place the ball in the back of the net putting the Devils up 2-1. With 19 minutes left in the half Matz would find Senior Matthew Gray making an overlapping run down the sideline and Gray would take some dribbles past some defenders and score his first goal of the game. The half would end with the Devils up 3-1.
Eight minutes into the second half the Devils would score again when Senior Spencer Rowland would find Gray. Four minutes later the Bulldogs would add their second goal off a corner kick. Seven minutes later the Devils would score an own goal for the Bulldogs as the Devils tried to clear the ball out. It would bring the score to 4-3. 30 seconds later the Devils would get back to scoring as Sophomore James Sanchez would find Gray for another goal. One minute later Matz would find Gray for another goal. Ten minutes later Matz would find Gray once again for Gray’s 5th goal. With 11 minutes left in the half the Bulldogs would add another goal. Two minutes later Senior Goalkeeper Cameron Phillips would find Matz for a goal. Matz would add one more three minutes later. The game would finish up with the Devils winning 9-4.”We were happy to come away with a win.” said Head Coach Scott Cline. “We allowed too many goals and have some things to work on there.”
On the Defensive side Senior Canon Helpman led the way with 23 clears/steals. He was followed by Sophomore Max Wilmot with 13, Senior Spencer Rowland with 11, and Sophomore McClane Whorton with 5. In goal Senior Cameron Phillips recorded 24 goalkeeper saves. The Player of the Game for the Devils was Senior Canon Helpman. “Canon had a lot of pressure on him in that back line. He played some really good defense and helped keep us in the game.” said Cline. The Maroon Devils move to 8-1 in conference play. The Devils travel to Andrews next Wednesday for a 4:00 matchup.