Soccer: Late goal leads FGR to 1-0 win over Greenhills (see WLAA photogallery)
Father Gabriel Richard soccer coach John Redente brought up the subject more than once with his players during Tuesday’s road game against talented Greenhills. The topic of discussion had to do with never stopping, following shots and looking for rebounds and opportunities.
One of those opportunities came late in the game and it ended up deciding the game as the Irish turned a scramble in front of the net into a goal off that gave the visitors a 1-0 win over the Gryphons on a perfect day for soccer.
With just 5:22 to play in a scoreless and well-played match at Greenhills, the Irish put pressure inside the 18-box. An initial shot was saved sophomore keeper Cale Piedmonte-Lang but the ball bounced around and FGR’s Brett Haslem was at the right time at the right place. The senior forward didn’t miss, delivering the game-winner into the back of the net.
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“You have to master the details,” Redente said of his team’s only goal.
Kizito Katende made some nice saves for the Irish to earn the shutout.
Redente said the team focused more on possession and less on attacking and the first-year FGR coach was pleased with the results.
“We were working on a couple different formations so it was good how we moved the ball through the middle and we were trying to shore up a couple small details and I thought we played well overall,” he said.
SEE WLAA PHOTOGALLERY – OVER 100 PHOTOS
The team is a little more than half way through the schedule and so far, so good for the Irish. The win over Greenhills gives the talented Irish an impressive 8-2-1 overall record.
“I’m always looking for a little more but overall we’re happy with where we are at,” he said. “They are rising to the occasion and improving with every practice and every game. They are playing hard and doing everything they are asked.”
And you can’t ask for more than that.
FGR hosts Liggett next Tuesday in a game the Irish would like to kick in the win column. “They beat us earlier in the season so we will be looking for a little redemption,” Redente said.
The Gryphons play at Lutheran High North on Friday (4 p.m.).
