ORANGE — Going into the season, the Mahar boys soccer team needed certain players to enhance their scoring output.
The Senators got all that and more in a 10-1 win over Taconic Tuesday afternoon to start their 2018 campaign.
“It was good to see unselfish play,” Mahar coach Dan Guertin said. “It shows that they’re not trying to develop bad habits. It’s awesome to come out and win the first game.”
The chemistry between front-line players James Temple and Riley Drew was apparent early in the game.
“We work well together,” Drew said. “Ever since middle school. We need to produce like we did today. We have played together forever.”
Jonathan Mahoney also played well for Mahar, scoring two goals with an assist.
“The three of them really connected well together,” Guertin said.
Drew had two goals and four assists for the Senators (1-0) while Temple had a goal and an assist. One of Drew’s assists was to freshman Cole Johnson, who took a pass from around the 18-yard line and sailed it past Taconic (0-1) keeper Jaden Cross.
“I just took it and one-timed it and hit the top-left corner,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think I was going to get that.”
Johnson also had an assist. The two points were his first varsity points in his first varsity game.
“There’s a lot less pressure in middle school,” Johnson said. “I was excited.”
The defense wasn’t tested much by the very young Taconic team, whose roster consists mostly of sophomores and freshmen. But Simon Powell’s play stood out for the Senators’ defense.
“It was good to see Simon take a leadership role in the back,” Guertin said. “He’s got three guys that have never started on defense beside him and he helped keep them organized.”
Logan Dodge played the first half in net and didn’t give up a goal, Taconic’s lone goal by Abraham Portillo-Gamez came against Aiden Lupien.
The Senators also got second-half goals from Nathan Sakowicz (two goals), Miguel Gomez (goal, assist) and Henry Ndayisaba.
Gomez slammed home a loose ball off a rebound before setting up Sakowicz on a breakaway.
Mahar led 6-0 at halftime.
